Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

What does the Minister of State propose to do? I appreciate the dilemma he posed whereby the water supply to premises is not measurable by a meter. Will the consumption per head be estimated? What will be the pricing system where there is no meter?

Amendment No. 36 provides for different methods for different classes of customer. Does the Minister of State have details on that? He mentioned old people and social welfare households earlier. It beats a poll tax, but what will the different charges be based on if there is a long pipeline to a small number of houses? I will not necessarily oppose the amendments, but these are important questions. If the price was lower or the allowance more generous, the popularity of the Government might increase, particularly if these details were spelled out.