Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 29 Jun 2000

Vol. 522 No. 4

Written Answers. - Public-Private Partnerships.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

18 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on the comments made by a person (details supplied) in which he suggested that his Department was using public-private partnerships to force local authorities to hand over control of public water to private operators and that this would inevitably lead to the introduction of water charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18647/00]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

At the time the statement referred to by the Deputy was made, I issued a press release in which I categorically denied that the use of public-private partnership projects had any bearing on the question of the introduction of water charges. Legislation precludes the charging of domestic consumers for water services. I made it clear at the time and I repeat it now that the Government has no proposals to revise this position.