Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to participate in this evening's debate. Once more we are before the House debating the issue of Irish Water. Sinn Féin and others want us to immediately abolish water charges and then establish a public water and sanitation board to deliver water. We are being told constantly that support for 75% of those elected to this House was based on their opposition to water charges, but this is simply not true. A poll taken of those who voted at the recent general election revealed that only 8% stated that water was the most important issue for them. Yet, to listen to Sinn Féin and others, one would think that water charges constitute the only issue affecting this country.

This week, we had a Sinn Féin Deputy on local radio stating that compliant taxpayers who have paid their water charges should not be refunded, and those who have not paid their water charges will not need to pay them. When he was questioned as to why those who have paid could not be refunded, the Deputy simply stated that the country could not afford this. Yet again, this is more of the same hypocrisy from Sinn Féin and others. If, as they state, we cannot refund water charges, how do they propose to fund the cost of providing a safe and reliable water and waste water system in the future? It is just more fantasy economics from Sinn Féin and others who are supporting them.

The motion also states that a water and sanitation board should be established to deliver water on the basis of need. Is this not what Irish Water is doing already? They want to abolish Irish Water and replace it with a new Irish Water, but this position makes no sense whatsoever. It is about time Sinn Féin and others stopped this populist charade and were truthful with the public on how they plan to fund the water and waste water infrastructure. At least we in Fine Gael have a clear position on how we want to fund this. We fully believe in the benefits of maintaining a national utility to fix, upgrade and maintain our water network. How else are we going to fund the necessary upgrades that are needed for our water network? If anybody needed evidence on how Irish Water is already fixing our water infrastructure, they need only look at the situation in Dundalk. I was delighted to announce recently that Irish Water, in conjunction with Louth County Council, is investing more than €3.4 million to upgrade water networks in the Dundalk area. Among the areas to be upgraded are the Lower Point Road, Clanbrassil Street, Dublin Road, Marian Park, Legion Avenue, Ardee Road and Castletown. The work will involve replacing over 9,000 metres of existing water mains. It is estimated that those works alone will result in a saving of over 78 million litres of water each year. To put this in context, it is the equivalent of saving 31 Olympic-sized swimming pools every year. From a financial and environmental point of view, we cannot afford to lose this amount of water on a regular basis. There is no doubt that these works will greatly improve the water supply to Dundalk town, not only for domestic users but also commercial customers who rely heavily on a secure water supply.

Surely it is time for Sinn Féin and others to take a responsible role in the future of our water infrastructure. They need to get real and realise that simply playing populist politics with the issue is of no benefit to anyone. Real solutions are needed which will work and be sustainable. I look forward to the report of the independent commission which will examine the best way forward for the supply of a safe and secure water network for future generations.

I wish to put it on the record once more that, should it be decided by this House that water charges are to be abolished, those compliant taxpayers who have paid their water charges should be repaid in full, with no exception.

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