Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Cathaoirleach will not be surprised to learn that there are problems in rural Ireland. I want to raise a key recommendation of the Joint Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services, namely, equality for those of us on group water schemes. Equity was clearly recommended in the report of the Expert Commission on the Future Funding of Domestic Public Water Services. It is not good enough that many low-income households in rural Ireland are obliged, as matters stand, to continue to pay twice for water. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has said that he will refund the water charges, which will cost €170 million. It would only cost a fraction of that to provide for group water schemes. That is why Sinn Féin, in its last alternative budget, set aside €1.5 million to achieve this. Why has such a key recommendation of both the expert commission and the committee not yet been implemented? There must be equality between those members of group water schemes and those accessing public services. The key difference is that the group water schemes receive an annual subsidy of €70 per household but this subsidy does not cover the full annual cost of accessing the water supply. Those connected to the public water supply and who are customers of Irish Water do not pay an annual charge for accessing this supply. Equity would mean that the State would cover the full annual cost of the group water scheme users accessing that water supply. The submission of the National Federation of Group Water Schemes to the committee showed the experience and the extraordinary voluntary effort that goes into every scheme. This is often neglected in the debate relating to the supply of water.

Another important matter is the need for a proper and timely programme to be put in place to facilitate the takeover of the schemes that request for this to happen. This is taking far too long and the schemes have been left in the dark as to when the necessary upgrades and takeovers will happen. We urgently need an absolute guarantee from the Minister and his Department that the legislation due in September will deal with the issue of group water schemes and will implement fully the recommendations of the expert group and the committee. I am seeking an assurance that group water schemes will be included under that legislation.