Pat Moylan (Fianna Fail)

I agree with the Minister and Senator Cummins regarding schemes, pipework and leaks. The metering of all supplies on the part of local authorities is a welcome development. Local authority officials will be in a position to check the amount of water being used, even if there is no charge in respect of supplies. The more meters that are put in place, whether on farms or in private houses, the more the situation relating to abuse and leaks will improve. The point has been made that some developers are getting away with murder by connecting 20 or 30 apartments or houses to a single meter that comes from the mains supply. The apartments or houses in question are not being individually metered. It is difficult for local authorities to find and penalise the developer abusing the system.