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

Most of the contact was with Waterford City and County Council. In fact, there was even a delegation from the councils last week on which Deputy Ó Broin's party and mine were represented. The other councils did have contact with the Department. In light of recent decisions by Dublin City Council to back a white-water rafting initiative on the quays, it was felt that the authority and some of the other Dublin local authorities had the financial wherewithal to be able to cope with the changes. The reality of the global revaluation of Irish Water is that there is a strong argument to be made that the compensatory system was over compensating the four Dublin local authorities, Waterford City and County Council, Wicklow County Council and Kildare County Council prior to the new valuations base.

I re-emphasise, however, that this was sought by the sector, and the payments for Waterford City and County Council and Wicklow County Council reflect the available funds, which are more than one third of what is discretionary in the local government section, going to both councils next year. That will be reviewed again by whoever is in my position in 12 months' time, who I hope will be me.

See this speech in context