James Bannon (Fine Gael)

The Minister of State is jumping the gun when he states the two amendments cover the same ground. Perhaps he will clarify who is responsible for damage caused to a mains. Will it be those working in the vicinity of such mains? Will the owners of the scheme, be it a local authority or private group sewerage or water scheme, be responsible for repairs even though they were not directly involved in the damage caused to the mains? Such liability can impose considerable burdens on group water schemes, all of which are voluntary. Local authority mains will be the responsibility of local authorities.

Many of the people who set up group water schemes and group sewerage schemes in the 1960s and 1970s have moved on. There may not now be many personnel involved in ensuring such schemes are properly constructed and repaired. Perhaps the Minister of State will say if responsibility will automatically fall to the particular local authority to repair any damage caused by way of excavation, construction and so on.