Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to have the opportunity to speak about this issue. I am coming at it from a different side in that I am speaking on behalf of those who are being billed twice.

In Sligo and, I am sure, other counties Veolia was given the contract some years ago for the implementation of the water scheme and the collection of charges. At an earlier stage, we contacted it to point out that people were being charged twice, that they were being charged once by Veolia and again by Irish Water. Some months ago, when I contacted Irish Water, it was very helpful and at the time resolved the issues involved. People were to get a refund of what they had paid. However, more recently, when I contacted Irish Water again, the situation had been more difficult and the result often depends on the person to whom I am talking.

The point is that once people are billed by one utility, they should not be billed again. It is wrong that people have to pay twice. When people are with Veolia, they pay €20 per quarter for the meter, or €80 a year, and if they have a second meter, they pay again. For this, they receive 50,000 gallons of water a year and then pay for any water they use above that amount, as many people do. I would like to see this issue sorted out.

What will happen to those who are part of group schemes? They organised themselves as a group and applied for and received grants to provide water schemes. In some cases they had to contribute £4,000 or £5,000 individually. They have been paying for water continuously during the years. What does the Minister propose to do for them? I believe they are being overcharged and it is wrong that they should have to pay when others do not. I ask the Minister to try to resolve the issue.

Sligo County Council has made an application in respect of sewerage schemes. There is a group scheme that takes in Grange, Tubbercurry and Enniscrone, all of which are under severe pressure. The applications in respect of these schemes have been in place for many years and there have been a few false dawns. I ask the Minister to use his good offices to see whether they can be progressed as quickly as possible.

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