Denis Landy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State has addressed this matter a number of times, but further reassurance would be good. We have always worked on the basis that, when Irish Water comes into being and people are charged, there will be an allowance. It must be based on an ability to pay, factoring in the size of one's family. There cannot be a set amount regardless of the family's size. The Minister of State mentioned that we will have another opportunity to discuss these issues when we debate the regulations establishing Irish Water in 2014, but I support the overall point about being cognisant of families' sizes and, thus, their ability to pay.