John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The primary function of Irish Water is to provide clean and safe drinking water to consumers and to treat wastewater in a safe and environmentally correct manner. This is not a question of resources. Irish Water's capital investment plans from 2014 to 2021 have identified that €5.5 billion is necessary for the upgrading of the system. The level of funding available to allow necessary works to be done has increased significantly in the last couple of years. I do not agree with the Deputy's categorisation of flushing as "old and Dickensian".

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