Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senators for their contributions. To cut to the heart of this matter, this job is too difficult for individual local authorities to deal with it. The rate of unaccounted for water in different counties, taking the examples of Fingal and the greater Dublin area, is approximately 23% to 24%. In counties Roscommon, Kerry, Cork and other such counties the rate is in the high 50% bracket. Some counties do not have the capacity in their local base to do the work that needs to be done. New synergies among all the counties are needed to have one water authority which can deal universally, right across the board, with the issues of unaccounted for water.

In terms of charging for water and commercial water rates, the rate in County Kildare is ¤1.52 per 1,000 litres of water. One pays ¤1.52 for 1,000 litres of water. However, one pays double that rate, more than ¤3 for 1,000 litres of water, in the adjoining county of Wicklow. Therefore, there are significant differences between counties. We believe, as I believe does everybody to whom I have spoken on this, that what is needed is one universal commercial charge for the whole country with the same charge applying to all domestic consumers, irrespective of whether they live in Cork, Dublin or elsewhere, similar to the charge applied by any other energy entity such as the ESB. The ESB charge is the same, regardless of where in the country one lives. When one puts on a switch, one pays the same rate as other customers for doing that. In terms of areas which have poor electricity infrastructure, the rest of the country pays for that. Similarly, in terms of areas which need investment in water infrastructure, the rest of us will pay to upgrade the water supply in those areas. That is constructive resolution of that problem.

I wish to deal with the issue of job losses. I wish to categorically state that there will be no job losses. Everybody currently employed in local authorities in the water services area will remain in their jobs. If people wish to move or to be seconded to Irish Water of Uisce Éireann, they can do that if they have the required skills and the knowledge and if there is a vacancy. People can transfer to this body if they want to and if they have the necessary skills. If people do not want to transfer to it, they will remain working in the local authority . There will be no involuntary redundancies. Nobody will lose his or her job. There is a new synergy between local government and Irish Water. A body which deals with all these issues, which is chaired by an independent chairperson, Kevin Foley, and Uisce Éireann and the four unions involved are represented on it. Therefore, there is accountability at that body and issues are being dealt with. There is a commitment that this is the way it will be, with service level agreements which will run to 2017, and there is no issue about that.

On the question of the importance of local authorities and those working in this area to Irish Water, let us consider who got the job as the chief executive of Irish Water. The former county manager in Dublin, Mr. John Tierney, is the new chief executive and he has worked in county councils throughout the country in a career in the public service spanning 35 years. He has done a fantastic job in Dublin. He has worked day and night with his staff and with councillors.