Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

What we are seeing now is the outworking of this in terms of the transfer of non-domestic water provision and billing from local authorities to Irish Water. It is no wonder it is happening now when one considers the figures for payments to Irish Water for the first quarter of 2016, which show a reduction of 45% on the previous quarter of paid accounts for domestic usage. In fact, in the first quarter of 2016, it only managed to secure a 27% payment rate. In other words, 73% of domestic users across the State have withheld payment. It is a very loud statement to the Fine Gael Government supported by Independents and, as the Minister confirmed in his reply, by Fianna Fáil, which campaigned clearly and unequivocally in the general election campaign in February for the abolition of water charges and Irish Water. Fianna Fáil has clearly rolled back on its position and the Minister is clearly indicating that the future of the Irish Water entity is guaranteed into perpetuity. However, it is not guaranteed. One of the responsibilities of the commission is to consider the funding of Irish Water. That is the oxygen for whether it survives. It should not, and I again call on the Minister not to allow this process to proceed.

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