Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 2:

To delete all words after ‘That Seanad Éireann’ and substitute the following:
‘supports:

- the establishment of Irish Water as a long-term strategic investment project to deliver the necessary water services infrastructure and quality of services required to meet statutory compliance and demographic needs; and
- the view that metered charging is the fairest form of water charging with benefits in proper management of this vital resource;

notes:

- that the Programme for Government provides for the introduction of a fair funding model to deliver a clean and reliable water supply which will involve the installation of water meters in all households;

welcomes:

- the enactment of the Water Services Act 2014 which provides clarity and certainty and ensures that water charges are affordable for customers;
- the fact that metered usage under the charging regime can lead to a lower charge when compared to the relevant capped charge;
- the fact that the installation of meters is helping to find leaks, thereby improving water conservation;
- the progress with the roll-out of the domestic metering programme being delivered by Irish Water with over 540,000 meters installed to date, supporting some 1,300 jobs;
- the fact that Irish Water maximised the delivery of the domestic metering programme in 2014 which resulted in an increase in meter installations of 35% over and above the end-2014 target of 400,000 indicated to the Commission for Energy Regulation; and
- the indications that progress remains on track for the installation of 1.1 million meters by end 2016.”

I welcome the Minister to the House. Prior to Christmas we had lengthy debates on water so I thought something new and imaginative would come from the Opposition side today but all I have heard is more of the same. I expected something new but I did not get it.