Water proposals require a rethink

The confirmation of the establishment of a new authority to manage water supplies in the country is worrying. Yesterday, the Cabinet confirmed that Irish Water would be a subsidiary of Bord Gais. It is understandable that people are sceptical of how an agency, such as Irish Water, could possibly manage the water services currently provided by over 30 local authorities around the country. Local authorities find it difficult to keep tabs on water leakages, outtages and problems as it stands. The notion that one centralised water agency can do so has the potential to be a bureaucrat's dream but a consumer's nightmare. The Government may have a point when it highlights the existence of 945 public water supply sources and 671 group schemes across the country. In the context that the population of Ireland might rise by up to three million between now and 2041, there is clearly a need to have more effective management of the water supply, and the means of delivery. However, taking local authorities out of the process and establishing what has the potential to be another HSE, is not the answer. And with the sharks of private industry circling around Ireland's semi-state assets, who is to say whether control of Ireland's water supplies will not pass into private hands in the future? The revelations that consumers will have to pay to have the water meters installed in order to facilitate water charges are likely to spark further furious protests from hard-pressed householders. All in all, it's another case of bad news being poorly handled by a misfiring Government.