Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We had some discussion yesterday on other aspects of Irish Water. I mentioned the ageing infrastructure and the fact that we have high levels of leakage - 40% overall, although 16% in newer, fast-growing areas like my part of south Dublin. However, some pipes, particularly in the city areas, are more than 100 years old. We need that general investment. That is clear.

As others have said - we had this conversation with regard to the money coming from Apple, for example - we need to invest billions of euro in our water infrastructure, not just because of environmental directives and EU regulations in terms of clean water and proper wastewater treatment facilities but also because of the housing crisis. If we are trying to spend the money in a targeted way, it has been suggested in a number of circles that we have to focus on key towns for redevelopment around the country and ask where we can increase the population in the best way. Obviously, as I have mentioned in a couple of contributions, we also need to focus on Dublin city centre, which has massive potential for redevelopment. The key message I want to send during my brief contribution in this debate is to invest, invest, invest, and borrow, if necessary, because it is in our strategic long-term interests.

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