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

All I can say is it is a commercial semi-State entity which will be fully self-financing. The subsection provides that water service development contributions collected by a local authority and transferred to Irish Water can only be expended within the functional area of that authority. While I understand the rationale behind the amendment, it is unnecessary as the company will only be permitted to spend the money in that functional area. The best judge of this is the Senator because he will make sure that that is what will happen. That is why it is important to have that level of contact with Irish Water or Uisce Éireann. I genuinely do not see a need for the amendment. All of the information will be on the website and one will be able to check it at any time.