Householders will know cost of water metering ‘in good time’, says Howlin

The cost of water for householders under the metering scheme will be decided "in good time", Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin has said.

He added it would allow people make the budgetary adjustments required when charging for water started at the end of this year and bills arrived next year. “We are now working on the next phase and it will be a matter for the regulator to determine the pricing structure.”

Fianna Fáil environment spokesman Barry Cowen asked how the Minister expected full engagement from the public and the Dáil when the costs involved were not known. "We have no idea of them, despite the commitment made in this House by the Taoiseach and Government members that the process would be open, transparent, consultative and all-encompassing."

Mr Howlin said one of the big issues to be dealt with was the creation of a proper infrastructure. “Nothing is more important for our people’s health and wellbeing, and for those who might invest in our State, than to have a decent water system.”

'Bonus-driven quango'
He said he did not believe Opposition TDs considered the current system provided by 34 local authorities, in which one-third of the wastewater plants were suspect, and where people were subject to boil-water notices, was adequate.

The Minister rejected a claim by Mr Cowen that Irish Water, which cost more than €180 million to set up, was a “white elephant, a bonus-driven quango”.

“The status quo is a fragmented, under-invested delivery system for the most important of public resources, which is water,” he added. “There are 34 local authorities using €1.2 billion of taxpayers’ money to provide an unsuccessful and inadequate system.”

Constraints on capacity
The Minister said there were 18,000 people on the public water supply with a boil notice or other restriction in place. An Environmental Protection Agency report had stated remedial action was required on 16 per cent of supplies at risk.

Mr Howlin added there were constraints on capacity for the people of Dublin, constituting one-third of the population, as had been experienced last year. Unaccountable water loss amounted to 40 per cent of capacity, he added.

“If we do not take remedial action, we will probably face legal action in the European courts,” he added.

Mr Cowen said the Oireachtas had been drip-fed information about Irish Water, including the €85 million spent on consultants. The company, he added, was set up under a cloud of secrecy by Bord Gáis, despite warnings from the Opposition and PricewaterhouseCoopers it would be a more expensive route.

“We now have massive duplication as tiers of upper and middle management are recruited, while local authorities will continue to maintain and repair water works for the next 12 years at least.”