Michael Comiskey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank him for making the time to discuss the most important issue of Irish Water. This matter has received lengthy debate in this and the Lower House as it is such a dominant matter. Water is one of our most important resources and it is crucial that we do all we can to utilise it effectively and ensure that we do not waste it.

I strongly disagree with the motion stating that Irish Water has been an absolute failure. That is simply not the case. Irish Water has increased investment in water and improved water quality. In my own county of Leitrim, investment in water supply, wastewater treatment systems and schemes will be in excess of €8 million under the Capital Investment Plan 2014-2016. This investment has allowed for a water supply scheme and reservoir and sewerage schemes. There are also plans for two wastewater treatment plant upgrades, a water treatment plant expansion and pipelines and reservoir upgrades. This investment was badly needed in County Leitrim to improve our water services. Similarly in County Sligo, investment in water schemes will be in excess of €16.1 million under the capital investment plan. I think it ironic that Fianna Fáil is calling Irish Water a failure, especially when I look at my neighbouring constituency of Roscommon where, in 2015, some 17,300 people came off boil-water notices. Some of these notices have been in place since 2009.

Irish Water is by no means a perfect solution but the problem surrounding Irish Water is not a perfect problem. The metering programme has led to increased water conservation. The installation of 804,000 meters has enabled people to measure how much water they are using. Metering data have shown us that approximately 40% of customers are beating the cap charge through lower usage. This fact is to be welcomed and proves the effectiveness of water charges.

I note that the Opposition motion also calls for the suspension of the present charging regime until our national water infrastructure is brought up to international standards. If we do not implement charges, how are we going to bring our water infrastructure up to such standards? In an ideal world this might be possible but in reality we need the charge as a source of finance to reform our water infrastructure. We need to work with Irish Water to support progress and help build the best quality water utility in the world. Furthermore, all of us in rural Ireland down through the years have been involved in building and running group schemes and we know how much that has cost us over the years.