Seanad debates

Tuesday, 10 December 2013

Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage

 

6:30 pm

Photo of Diarmuid WilsonDiarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We still live in a democracy, in spite of what some people would like. In that context, Senator Gilroy might afford me the opportunity to ask a question and receive clarification from the Minister of State. Senator Sean Barrett, a world-renowned economist whom we are lucky to have in this House, has predicted that the average water bill will be approximately €740 per household per annum, based on the current cost of producing treated water. Surely that sum will more than pay for the cost of supplying the water being used in a household. Irish Water, I assume, will be a profit-making organisation, but for whom will it be making those profits? Surely those profits should be used to maintain the pipework and general water infrastructure rather than asking consumers to pay a standing charge on top of the charge for the water they use. If consumers are facing a bill of €740 plus a standing charge, are they are looking at a total of €1040 per annum? Is the Department fiddling with the figures? I cannot understand the logic behind this.

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