Michael Comiskey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I extend my welcome to the Minister of State. This is very important and I support the setting up of the new water authority. Many questions have been asked and we have dealt with them thus far. Local people are working with local authorities at the moment and some of them are concerned about their jobs. Will their jobs be maintained and will they be kept on by the local authority, or will they be working for the new board? Clarity for these people is important.

It is also very important to use local contractors and subcontractors - local people with local knowledge - to install meters, a matter touched on by my colleagues. In many cases, such persons have already installed some of the systems and pipework to be used. It is important to keep them in the loop. If we are to create 2,000 jobs, it is important to keep as many of them as possible in local areas. Problems arose in the past, particularly in Border areas, when people from outside the State came into local authorities and sublet some of the work to local people. They skipped off before the job was finished without paying the local subcontractor. I have raised a number of such cases in the House. We must be careful not to allow this to happen in the future.

I understand the current free usage allowance is 50,000 gallons. Perhaps it would be a good idea to examine the limit as it applies to families, particularly those on low incomes, for whom we should do something.

A point was made about the importance of not having to dig up the road a number of times when one is doing a job. When works are being done on the roadway, the opportunity should be taken to inspect the water system and make sure it is being looked after.

Problems may be encountered by farmers who have several plots of land and are paying for several meters. I suggest there be a single universal charge for farmers. The north-south and east-west variations are unfair. There should, therefore, be a universal charge for water across the country.