Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Water Services (No. 2) Bill, which paves the way for the fundamental reform of water services delivery in this country, which services currently cost more than €1 billion per annum. Ensuring greater security of quality water supply for the Irish people and the economy is of paramount importance. Having a national public utility providing water services and infrastructure and a sustainable funding model will, I expect, bring an end to the situations we witnessed in Galway some years ago and in Dublin recently.

There is no doubt but that water is one of the most important commodities on earth. It is only when water is rationed or the supply is cut off for various reasons that we realise its importance. This Bill provides for the transfer of water services functions from local authorities to Irish Water. I join with other Senators in paying tribute to the many local authority workers and engineers throughout the country who have worked diligently to provide an adequate and safe supply of water to Irish people. In many local authorities this has been achieved despite paltry investment in water services infrastructure and a lack of funding by the State in this infrastructure.

I recall Ministers saying during the Celtic tiger years that we were so awash with money they were looking for ways and means to spend it. Investment at that time in water infrastructure would have been a prudent and beneficial investment for all. However, such investment brought no votes and the benefits that might accrue were not visible to the electorate. This is possibly the reason we have been bereft of investment in this infrastructure, in particular over the past 20 years.

I listened to Senator Walsh kick off this debate. I never cease to be amazed at the neck of some members of Fianna Fáil in suggesting that the Labour Party has rowed back on its promise to oppose the introduction of water charges.

The Labour Party and all other parties were left with no option after Fianna Fáil signed up to these charges in the bailout programme. This matter of fact is on record and it simply is not true for anyone to say otherwise.

While the Bill contains many provisions, obviously people will hone in on the charging for water. Despite the many other aspects of the Bill, people will focus on that and it is natural that they would do so because people unquestionably are hard pressed. The people of middle Ireland are hard pressed with bills and when one talks about the economy picking up and so on, these people do not see that at present. They see this measure as another bill that will come in the door but hopefully, this will change in the future.

I note that under section 17, Irish Water will be required to prepare a water charges plan, setting out details of its tariffs and related matters, including payment methods. Moreover, these plans, including tariffs, will be subject to the approval of the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER. When will these plans be put before Members? The Government should have a say in this regard, apart from the regulator, because I have doubts in respect of regulators. There is a need to consider the work of regulators and some appraisal should done regarding the regulators in place at present. Indeed, someone should be looking after the supervision in this regard as well. It is the same as anything else in that one cannot have people policing themselves and the regulator will deal with the information it gets from Irish Water. This should be examined carefully by the Government before it goes to the regulator.

I understand that work is being progressed on the approach to the proposed free allowance and on affordability measures that will be introduced by the Government to ameliorate the impact of water charges on domestic customers. When it is proposed to announce such allowances and to have in place an estimate of the type of charges? I acknowledge that an inventory is being carried out at present by local authorities, feeding into Irish Water. When will people get an idea as to what they will be charged for their water and on what quantity of water will be provided in a free allowance? What other mechanisms will be put in place to ameliorate the impact in the case of large families and so on? The Minister of State might revert to Members on these questions because this is what people want to know. They wish to know how much it will cost, how much water will be provided free as an allowance, what they will be obliged to pay for the rest of it and what mechanisms for payment will be available. I am glad of the provision that Irish Water will not cut off the supply completely if people do not pay, but what mechanisms will be available to the company? Will it be the same as for Bord Gáis or the ESB if people do not pay their bills, where they are cut off? Will the company go to court or will a mechanism be put in place to collect the money through Revenue, social welfare payments, pay packets or whatever, in the event of people not paying this charge? These are the type of questions that are being asked on the ground and perhaps the Minister of State might provide Members with some answers today.