Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

-----on water metering. Will the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government indicate the likely cost of putting in place a fully functioning water supply system? Water is a most precious resource and should not be allowed to leak into the ground.

The second matter to which I wish to refer relates to CIE. To be fair, Senator Ross has raised this issue on many occasions. I am in possession of a written reply in which it is indicated that CIE will not service certain routes in Galway. This is despite the fact there is a demand for such services on such routes. I am in possession of a list of the names of 149 people who are seeking to have a bus service made available on one short route. CIE has indicated that it is losing money. That company is in receipt of a State subsidy of €290 million. It is a semi-State body and will not allow its directors to come before the Joint Committee on Transport to answer questions from Members. Why is that the case? What is going on? Why is there not accountability to the Houses in respect of every penny paid out by the State?