Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Enough is enough as far as I am concerned on this issue. This is long overdue, probably 50 years overdue. Many people became secretaries of group water schemes and went to knock on their neighbours' doors to ask for small contributions to dig the road, to get the road opening licence and to lay the pipework with voluntary labour because the local authorities could not afford it because they were not properly funded and were all over the place in the delivery of water services. That is what we have come to.

I have no difficulty in saying I want to see this enhanced even more into the future. Deputy Niall Collins, who has just come into the Chamber, will agree with me. The people I represent deserve some sort of recognition for the costs associated with the delivery of their water. Why would we not give it to them? Why do the three Deputies opposite have such a problem with people who live in rural locations getting this?

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