Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----given that, every day, colleagues in the House look for investment in their areas and constituencies. We all want to see more jobs attracted into our country. We all know that the investment in the infrastructure that was required in this country could not be leveraged through the local authority system. The only way to raise that finance was by setting up a utility company - Irish Water. I would be first to concede that the initiative has not been perfect and many mistakes have been made. The legislation is trying to ensure there is fairness and that everybody pays a small contribution towards the provision of water services. The people in County Roscommon are very happy that Irish Water was set up. Last week, 11,300 more people no longer needed a boil water notice in County Roscommon as a result of an investment of €26.8 million that has taken place in that county. The facility is located out the road from where I live.

In my town of Ballinasloe right now, Irish Water has a contractor that has commenced the upgrading of the water and sewerage system. It is a massive investment which I hope will benefit Ballinasloe as we try to attract badly needed industry to the town.