Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is a valid point because, with the technology available, if we had district metering, we could see how much water is being used and whether it is going astray. Furthermore, we could use the technology to find out whether there are leaks along the system - for example, in a given cluster of houses. Surely that would be a far more cost-effective way of installing the metering system. That is a system we have proposed for several years. Furthermore, the money we could save by not having to install a meter at every house could be invested in the infrastructure. I am keen to hear the thoughts of the Minister of State on why we are not proceeding with a district system rather than the system proposed. This goes back to the original point we have been making. Really, the only reason metering is being introduced is so that the charges from 2019 onwards will provide for people to be hammered.