John Kelly (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. We are where we are on this issue because of political decisions made in the past. When we had water charges they were abolished for political reasons. When they were reintroduced they were later abolished for political reasons to get Governments elected. In the course of all of that we never sorted the problem but it is true that the way Irish Water was set up was shambolic. There is no question about that. I said in this House that there was no need for PPS numbers at any stage. That has now been proven right.

The issue of the bonus culture infuriated the people because they are sick of it, but what I have been hearing on the doorsteps throughout this debate is that people would be much happier with a standing charge rather than what was initially proposed. Now they have that standing charge, which is very much affordable. If one has a septic tank one pays only half that rate. If one has one's own water supply it is only half that rate. If one is on a boil water notice it is only half that rate and if one has a combination of two of those, one is not subject to any charge.

This problem was landed on the desk of the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, and I welcome the way he has dealt with it.

In my county of Roscommon we have had major problems with water quality for years. I was a county councillor from 2004 and during that time there was no investment in the water infrastructure in County Roscommon. The problems continued to the degree that many areas of the county were under boil water notices, and have been for years. In Roscommon alone, 31% of the people have always paid for their water, and in most cases it is water they cannot drink.

Those in the Opposition say we should not have to pay these charges because we are already paying for them through our taxes. That is true, and the amount of money we are paying through our taxes is going to maintaining the system already in place but we need investment in repairing the leaking pipes throughout the country. Some 50% of the pipes are leaking, therefore, that investment must happen.

Recently I asked the local authority for updates on what is happening in my county.

Three or four new water treatment plants are being developed. That never happened in the last ten years of my involvement in local politics. In Castlerea, for example, during the recent by-election, I noticed that every house I canvassed had stacks of bottled water which the householders had bought in local supermarkets. I guarantee that the charge now being put in place will be substantially lower than what people are already spending on bottled water.

New water treatment plants are being developed in Killeglan, Boyle and Castlerea. For years in my area, when one made a cup of tea, one either tasted water that had come from a sewer or a swimming pool. Three weeks ago, however, Irish Water met officials from Roscommon County Council and there are now plans to find a new source of water for the Ballaghaderreen area. I am aware from my conversations that people do not mind paying for water as long as it is of good quality and that they can drink it from their taps.