Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity provided by some of those in the Technical Group to debate again this important issue of the future funding of public water services and the management and operation of our water and sewage networks by Irish Water. The Government has invested considerable time, energy and resources in the water sector reform programme. We have established a single national utility that has assumed responsibility for water services across the country. Irish Water is now identifying the network's problems and making improvements in a way that 31 separate local authorities never could. The company is increasing infrastructural investment, which is so essential for repairing and upgrading our treatment plants, reservoirs and pipes. It continues to install an estimated 30,000 meters per month. These meters are vital for water conservation and reducing leakage. As stated previously, Irish Water is making changes for the better of our water services and thereby investing in the future prosperity of our nation. In that context, some 40,000 jobs will be either created or sustained in water services right through to 2020.

People have faced many difficulties during Ireland's recession and I understand that new bills, no matter how small, are never welcome. I have accepted on many occasions that mistakes were made along the reform path. The Government has held up its hand and has dealt with the issues with which we were faced. However, all we are faced with in the Opposition's motion is further encouragement towards protest, obstruction and non-payment. That is it. There is not one constructive idea in the motion and it does not provide one viable alternative with regard to achieving all our objectives in respect of a water services system that is fit for purpose. The reforms to which I refer are happening because we can no longer sit back and let our water infrastructure deteriorate further.

The Government has listened to people's genuine concerns. We reviewed all issues last autumn and produced a revised charging system that is certain, simple and affordable and which incentivises conservation. There are now only three tariffs. Households with meters can beat the capped charge levels if they use less water than the capped charge equivalent. Metering data estimates that 35% of households can beat the cap based on current usage levels. Unmetered households, whose usage is proven to have been below the capped charge equivalent through one year's metered usage, will be entitled to a rebate from Irish Water. The revised charging levels are among the lowest in Europe. If we consider the position in England and Wales, we discover that households there have paid and will pay an average charge of €540 per year during 2014 and 2015.

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