Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The water services strategic plan may cover a period of 25 years. The Minister of State spoke of public private partnerships during our previous discussion. Will he elaborate on the Government's thinking on the role of public private partnerships in the water system? Does it envisage investment in the system by private capital investment companies? Is it possible that such private involvement could give rise to additional charges, similar to the additional tolls levied on motorists as a result of public private partnerships in the roads? Is there a danger that additional costs will arise for consumers in certain areas where capital investment, for example, in a water treatment plant, is provided under a public private partnership or will the cost be borne by Uisce Éireann as a semi-State company? Companies involved in such partnerships expect a return on their investment.

The Minister of State did not answer my question on the projected level of capital investment in the water system. Have projections been done on capital costs? In our discussion on the previous section we heard that €600 million will be needed annually. What level of capital investment is envisaged in the years ahead? Has the Department projected the costs of such investment, including any interest payments that may accrue under public private partnership arrangements?