Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I have been invited by Senator McCarthy to repeat my earlier statement and I am pleased to do so. The Local Government (Financial Provisions) Act 1997 precludes the charging of domestic users for water services. This is in line with Government policy and there is no intention to change it. Existing legislation provides for the charging of commercial users and this is well accepted by all sides of the House. This Bill does not change that and the metering provisions in section 72 are intended to support ongoing charges for non-domestic users.

Metering will be universally necessary after 2006 and it makes sense. It is necessary, as Senator Brady observed, for collecting data and facilitating conservation. The amount of water that comes out of the tap after leaving the source varies across local authorities but is only approximately 50% on average. If that figure could be increased to 70% it would reduce dramatically the need to undertake further investment in many water schemes. Metering makes sense and I repeat as unambiguously as possible that there is no intention to introduce domestic water charges. Consumers will be happy to know the quantity of water usage and that wastage can be detected. As I have pointed out today and during last week's Committee Stage debate, the amount of water wasted is frightening.