Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not wish to be seen to collaborate with this Administration but I ask the Leader to make a request to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, and the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, to extend the deadline for claims for the water conservation grant of €100. The closing date for receipt of applications via the Internet is 12 midnight, tomorrow, Thursday, 8 October. Some 600,000 have applied but 700,000 have not and that is a loss of some €70 million. Whether we like it or not, there are people who are eligible for this grant who have their own septic tanks or water supplies.

I do not want to go into the background of this disaster. Irish Water is a political nightmare for the Government and the various matters relating to it have been very badly handled. The administration of the applications process has been very slow. In addition, many people in rural areas do not have broadband or access to the Internet. I have been in contact with councillors who have been making representations on behalf of individuals but a public representative is not allowed, under the Data Protection Act, to act for an individual in correcting mistakes regarding addresses to which bills have been sent. In the circumstances, the €100 would be a help to many households at this time. I cannot understand how we in this House could be eligible for the €100 grant, having paid our water rates a few months ago, but would not get our money back. The whole thing is totally illogical and it is beyond comprehension that any Government would oversee such a debacle. I ask the Leader to convey to the Government my request - which would, I believe, be unanimously supported in the House - that the date be extended for at least two weeks in order to allow people to submit their applications. One is obliged to submit a great deal of information, such as PPS numbers and bank account details, and that is not so easy. It is practically impossible for some people and it is putting enormous pressure on public representatives the length and breadth of Ireland.