Kilduff fears Irish Water will become a "bureaucratic monster"

A local councillor has dubbed news that the newly established Irish Water company will be exempt from the Freedom of Information legislation as an "outrageous stroke" by the government. Cllr Paddy Kilduff fears that the national body, which shortly takes over responsibility for all water infrastructure and water charges from local authorities, will become another unaccountable bureaucratic nightmare fraught with inefficiencies and reckless expenditure. "I was extremely concerned a number of months ago when I learned of the government's plans to establish a national water company solely responsible for the provision of water throughout the country and for the collection of water charges from households and businesses. I believe that the current arrangement of responsibility resting with local authorities and locally elected representatives ensures maximum accountability and efficiency," he commented. The Fianna Fáil public representative said he does not believe Irish Water company will enhance the development or delivery of water infrastructure throughout the country in any way. "We should have learned lessons from the establishment of the HSE and the recent debacle with third level grants. My fears have been compounded this week as I learn that the proposed Irish Water Company is to be exempt from the Freedom of Information Bill 2012," Cllr Kilduff explained. "If this proposal is not amended then Irish Water will indeed become an unaccountable monster responsible for collecting millions in revenue each year with no requirement to answer to rate payers. Yet again this Fine Gael/Labour government is displaying its true colours. This was to be the government of transparency, reform and accountability; Where is it?" He is calling on the government to ensure the Freedom of Information Bill is amended and extends to Irish Water to help ensure that the creation of yet another bureaucratic monster is avoided.