Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

They might not buy them initially but they will use EU legislation to argue that they should be allowed to tender to operate them. We have seen this happen in respect of a plethora of different services, including refuse collection and so on. The Minister cannot tell us and the people of Ireland that is not what is happening. If he cannot see it, he needs to engage in a little more consideration of what is actually going on. If the Minister is not aware of that, he is being taken for a ride and so is the Government because that is the agenda.
A number of other issues arise around the charging for water. There has been many references to urban myths. Another myth is that people on group water schemes have been paying for water for years. They have, but what has not been clarified during this debate, which is important in the context of how much it will cost the household and a dwelling for water, is what will be the impact of water charges on those group water schemes. I have discussed this issue with a number of people in Galway and Mayo. I have been told that Mayo County Council did not charge the group water schemes for all the water they used and in some cases gave them rebates of up to €30,000 to €40,000 per year. In Galway, a flat charge was applied which meant that a person connected to the water supply from Galway County Council was charged only a flat rate for use of the scheme regardless of how much water he or she used. We know group water schemes have in many cases been very successful and have been able to keep their costs down. Therefore, the charges to the householder have been relatively low even though the schemes have been a burden on rural communities. What will happen now that Irish Water will be supplying the water? Will households and group schemes be charged the full whack for water or will they get a rebate similar to those provided by the county councils? That is very unclear. This also relates to the water charges on dwellings in that if the group water schemes cannot afford the upkeep of the schemes, Irish Water will gain control of those schemes and take over the remainder of the network, which feeds into all of the schemes eventually being brought together under one umbrella, leading to the future privatisation of Irish Water. That is what is happening whether or not the Minister believes it. It is important to point that out.
There are a number of other issues arising from this section which need to be looked at. Section 3(2) states: "Subsection (1) does not to apply non-domestic water supply and waste water charges made under the approved water charges plan in respect of the period from 1 October 2014 until 31 December 2014." Will a similar regime be put in place in respect of commercial charges? Are they to be frozen until 2019 also and, if so, what are the implications of that for Irish Water and the local authorities?
Section 3(8) states: "The charging of customers of Irish Water for the provision of water services provided for in this section is deemed to be part of the approved water charges plan." If I go to a restaurant for a meal, I expect it to be of a certain standard. If I am buying a service and product from Irish Water, can I expect quality water and a quality service? If Irish Water does not provide me with water of a sufficiently high standard, should I be expected to pay for it? In this regard, I again cite the Casla regional water scheme. The reason that scheme was being put in place was because Ireland has been in contravention of EU directives on water in Carraroe for 40 years. The water supply in that area comes from Loughaunwillan and has been contaminated for some time. Following an outbreak of e-coli last year, up to €1 million was spent to upgrade that water system. We were then told that the water was top quality and we had nothing to worry about. However, in the past few months - this is on Irish Water's watch - we found out, in the main as a result of some good journalism by Radio na Gaeltachta, that in 95% of the tests carried out since 2008 the level of TTHMs in the water in Carraroe exceeded the levels agreed by the EPA. In some cases, the level of TTHMs was 200% above the acceptable level. This does not indicate supply of good quality water. TTHM levels of that order can be carcinogenic. People can die from drinking water of that quality. It is unfair to be asking communities whose water, in terms of TTHM levels, exceed the levels acceptable by the WHO and the EPA, to pay for water. It is obvious this has been an issue prior to 2008. The only reason we do not know if the levels were higher previous to 2008 is because measurement of TTHM levels only commenced in 2008. I would argue there has been an issue with water quality in that area for a much longer period. I would like the Minister to comment on the issue of water quality. If I purchased a drink in a bar and I found out it was not of good quality and might do damage, I would not be expected to pay for it. Why should people be expected to pay for water that is not of sufficiently high quality? I hope the Minister will respond with specific answers to the very specific points I have raised.