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

This side of the House refutes the figures, as does the Senator. There is clarity on the issue provided by me and Senator Maurice Cummins. Let us not play games. This is the real business of improving water infrastructure, creating jobs and providing for transparency in the process. Let us go to the core of the issues raised. Government policy is clear that every household will have a free water allowance. People will be able to control the amount of water they use and reduce it, if they can. As Senator Cáit Keane said, if there is a medical issue, it can be dealt with in that context. There is no issue about there being a free allowance for every house in the country. There are no affordability issues. There is no issue regarding health and those who have significant problems. All of these issues will be dealt with. I, therefore, refute and reject the arguments made.

Sinn Féin has asked what is the point of installing meters and why we do not spend the money in repairing pipes. There is evidence from across the world where water meters are installed that there is very significant water loss on the customer side. I have various figures. A figure of 25% is not unusual and I have seen figures of 40% and 50%. People in County Mayo are talking about figures of 70% and 80% in some cases. I ask every Senator to talk to people in the group water schemes in their counties and they will tell them exactly what is going on. They will tell them how to conserve water and about the importance and effectiveness of metering. They understand better than anybody else the cost of supplying water and know what is happening.

The other Sinn Féin question was why we had to pay for a service. We pay because we are receiving services. The household charge is to pay for the services the local authority provides. It provides for footpaths, lighting, street cleaning, parks, libraries and other facilities. The water service is separate. I have a son in England who lives in a third floor flat and everybody pays £60 per month for water and other local services.