andMr. Keating asked the Minister for the Environment why the water rent being levied by Kildare County Council on domestic dwellings for the year ending December 1978, is double that for the previous year, from £3 to £6 in one instance of a three-bedroomed residence (details supplied); if such a large increase has had his approval; and, if so, how it is reconciled with the small increase in expenditure permitted to the local authorities by his Department.

The fixing of water charges is, by law, solely the function of each sanitary authority and the question of my approval does not, therefore, arise. There is no information available in my Department regarding the increase in domestic water charges referred to by the Deputies and it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the sanitary authority's exercise of their statutory power.