FG TD Joe O'Reilly.

Oreilly responds to smiths bloated super quango irish water charge

Cavan-Monaghan Fine Gael TD Joe O'Reilly has hit back at opposition TD Brendan Smith's attack earlier today about Irish Water being a 'bloated super quango'.

When contacted by the Celt for a statement on the controversial body the Bailieborough Deputy said that Fianna Fail and the Troika not only brought in the concept of water rates, signed off on the deal but that they were also planning much higher rates in the first place. In a statement to this paper he said:

'From the outset, it must be acknowledged that the whole concept of water rates was something which was initially agreed upon, between Fianna Fáil and the Troika, and was part of the deal which they accepted, when they signed the bailout agreement in 2010.

'It is also important to note that Fianna Fáil was going to bring in water charges, at a much higher level, if they had stayed in power. Under its National Recovery Plan, published in 2010, Fianna Fáil wanted to raise €500 million through the introduction of water charges, meaning households would be paying an average of €400 a year for water. This Government were determined to make water charges as affordable as possible for the people, with a current rate of €1.15 or €3.00 per week.

'There are many Cavan and Monaghan people, who already pay for their water, through private wells and group water schemes, and they will go on doing so, as before.  For those who have registered with Irish Water, the water conservation grants will be rolled out to all Cavan and Monaghan citizens in September, as planned.

'Unsafe drinking water is a health and safety issue and we have to invest in our water and sewerage systems across the country. Since its inception, Irish Water has, for the first time ever, developed a National Lead Pipe strategy, removed 17,000 people in neighbouring Roscommon from the ‘Boil Water’ notice and invested €340 million in 2014, in capital projects to improve our water infrastructure. Recently, Irish Water announced plans to invest €3.6 million in the replacement of water mains in Monaghan Town and Clones, improving the water supply for approximately 8,000 customers. The €20 million upgrade project for Cavan Town has also been progressing satisfactorily since Irish Water came into existence.

'This current matter is an accountancy issue, will involve no further costs and will have no implications for Budget 2016. In practical terms, it will mean that the demands of Irish Water will now have to compete with the usual demands for capital expenditure, in the normal budgetary process. It also merits noting that Eurostat is keeping Irish Water under review and if the payment levels improve, which I believe they will, and other progress is made, it may yet be approved to go off balance sheet. It is not unrealistic to expect this,' he said.