During Leaders' Questions on Tuesday of last week, I asked a number of basic questions on water charges, which the Government will introduce on 1 October 2014. I asked whether families would be charged for water in cases where their water supply was not fit for purpose, a boil water notice was in place or hard water was being provided that was affecting electrical appliances. I also asked what would be the charge, whether a free allowance would be provided, if so, how much the allowance would be, and if a higher free allowance would be provided for larger families and persons with a medical condition which necessitates greater use of water. The Taoiseach refused to answer my questions and dismissed my suggestion that he was attempting to kick this issue down the road beyond the European and local elections. However, he provided a definitive assurance that members of the public would know the precise position in respect of water charges before the European and local elections. He stated: "In the next couple of weeks, the Government will bring to the House the financial and structural model under which Irish Water will operate and it will include a very clear analysis and presentation of how this will operate, the extent of the charges that will apply, the follow through on the use of an allowance of water and the charge thereafter." At a meeting of the Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht yesterday, representatives of Irish Water and the Commission for Energy Regulation stated precisely the opposite, noting that an indicative charge would be announced by June and the charge would be set in August, both of which months fall after the European and local elections. Either the Taoiseach misled the House yesterday week or Irish Water and the regulator misled the joint committee yesterday.

Members of the public and Dáil are entitled to know the truth about water charges. The Taoiseach must clarify the position today. Did he mislead the House last week? Did the regulator and Irish Water mislead the joint committee yesterday or does one hand not know what the other hand is doing? Will the Taoiseach specify the date on which the report he promised last week will be laid before the House for debate? He indicated it would become available in a couple of weeks. I presume that means it will be presented not later than next week.

I am not sure how the Deputy can conclude from the words "a couple of weeks" that it will be this day next week.

The Taoiseach is engaging in an exercise in crazy maths.

I stand by my statement to Deputy Healy last week that the Government will, before the local elections, produce, publish and debate the financial and business model dealing with the structure and running of Irish Water. In its commitment to set up Irish Water, the Government stated there would be a free allowance per person and a charge would be levied for usage thereafter. The business and financial model and structure the Government will present will include the level of subvention the Government intends to provide from the taxpayer for the allowance that will be included in that structure. This will set out the average charge per household. Shortly thereafter, Irish Water will submit to the regulator its detailed plan, taking into account what has been determined in Government policy and decisions. The Government will make the decision about the level of subvention, which will determine the extent of the allowance and the average charge per household. I cannot tell Deputy Healy what he will be charged in January 2015 when he receives a bill because I do not know the culture of water usage he will adopt.

What we have said is very clear. The Government will set out its structure, that is, the financial and business model for Irish Water, and the level of subvention will determine the average charge, which will be known by everybody before the local elections. The plan Irish Water will submit to the regulator must be open for consultation and debated in a full, open and transparent manner. The statistical details are a matter for the regulator. The Government sets policy and the Deputy will know the policy long before the local elections. While it will not be produced next week, I stand by my statement that it will be produced in the next couple of weeks.

What the Taoiseach promised last week is very clear and on the record of the House. I remind him of his statement that the Government would, in the next couple of weeks, have "the extent of the charges that will apply, the follow through on the use of an allowance of water and the charge thereafter". He is not fooling anybody. Is it not time to stop ducking and diving, come clean and explain in plain language to the public the details of the charges? Will a family be charged for water if a boil water notice is in place and the water supplied to it is not fit for purpose? Will a family which is being supplied with hard water that is damaging electrical kettles, dishwashers, showers and washing machines be charged for water? Will large families be provided with a larger free allowance? Will people who have medical conditions which require the use of additional water receive an additional free allowance?

It is clear from the Taoiseach's reply that he and his Government are making a deliberate attempt to confuse the public and hide the details of the charges from them until after the local and European elections. It is the Taoiseach's responsibility, particularly in view of the confusion that arose at yesterday's meeting of the joint committee, to clear up this issue and inform the House of the exact position regarding water charges.

Before the Taoiseach replies, it is not in order to accuse the Taoiseach, a member of the Government or any Member of deliberately misleading the House. If an allegation of that sort is to be made, according to Standing Orders, it may be done only by way of substantive motion.

As I have stated on many occasions, the cost of dealing with water is currently €1.2 billion, some 18,000 people are on boil water notices and the Environmental Protection Agency reports that 16% of supplies are at risk. We are under threat from the European Commission, which has launched a pilot infringement procedure against Ireland in respect of 80 treatment plants. These measures are necessary and there should not be any confusion.

The Taoiseach should answer Deputy Healy's questions.

He is misleading the House.

I do not know if Deputy Healy washes his car three times per week. As we set out at the beginning, a free allowance will be provided and thereafter a charge based on usage will apply. While I do not know what Deputy Healy will be charged next January, I will be able to tell him before the local elections, based on the business and financial model published by the Government and debated in the House, that the subvention being provided by the taxpayer through the free allowance-----

The Taoiseach is providing cover for the Labour Party.

Together, these will determine the average charge.

Deputy Healy does not want to pay for anything.

The details to which Deputy Healy refers must all be worked out. The end result will not be in excess of the average charge determined by Government decision. The Government is the only body that can make the decision on what will be the average charge. There are a couple of issues here. The Government produces a business and financial model, and the subvention included determines the average charge.

Issues such as statistics and so on will be dealt with by the regulator in a public consultation process. The end result will not be in excess of the average charge.

The Taoiseach did not answer the question asked.