It is now clear to everybody with an ounce of common sense that the Tánaiste is presiding over an absolute shambles in Irish Water and worse in respect of the Government's decision to impose domestic water charges on struggling families. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Dublin last Saturday and told the Government loud and clear that they could not afford these charges. By the way, they are not the consumer focus people want or need. I repeat to the Tánaiste because she does not seem to get it that thousands of families throughout the State do not have the money to pay water charges, full stop. They cannot pay. We know that the Government has held over these families the threat that their water supply will be reduced to a trickle and potential court actions and judgments, but the situation is far worse. I have a letter sent by Wicklow County Council to rental accommodation scheme, RAS, tenants, the scheme administered by the Tánaiste's Department. The letter makes it clear to these tenants that a failure to pay their water charges could result in their eviction. Therefore, not only do we have a threat to the supply of water and of potential court action, we also discover that the very roof over people's heads may be in jeopardy. The Tánaiste is aware that there are 36,000 families in the RAS scheme; therefore, I want her to tell me and the Dáil how it is that she authorised the issuing of such a threatening letter to these families. I want her to make it clear to them and other local authority tenants that nobody will be evicted because he or she cannot pay his or her water charges.

My understanding is that councillors representing the Deputy's party, Independents and Fianna Fáil control Wicklow County Council. I, therefore, suggest to her that when she gets time in her busy schedule, she pick up the telephone and make a call to her own public representatives who serve on that county council and suggest to them that they might have a conversation with management of the local authority? I am happy to say that, as a consequence of the budget and in connection with the families about whom the Deputy spoke in County Wicklow and other council areas throughout Ireland who are entitled to rent supplement supported by my Department, as well as older people, something like 700,000 households will receive a water support payment via the Department of Social Protection in quarterly instalments of €25. That would be the first thing about which I suggest Sinn Féin councillors advise affected families. Second, as the Deputy will have heard from the Taoiseach, water payments have been capped - the maximum payments people in the situation described by her will pay will be severely limited. The Minister for Finance will explain in detail the measures for people at work when the Finance Bill is debated in the House. A considerable support structure has been put in place. The Deputy has just heard the leader of Fianna Fáil question whether that support structure will be worthwhile. That support structure which, as the Deputy noted, will cost up to €100 million will be worthwhile.

The goal is to have a safe and clean water system for our population, including those who are on low incomes in RAS and local authority properties in County Wicklow, many of whom are represented by Sinn Féin councillors. It is important that they have a clean and reliable supply of water. As treated water is expensive, I would expect the Sinn Féin members of Wicklow County Council to suggest to the local authority manager that people should be encouraged to conserve the water they use for household or gardening purposes in order to reduce the cost of metered water to everybody, including themselves. When the metering system is working, families with lower usage will get a rebate on their usage. We are putting in place a modern system that supplies everybody with good, healthy and clean water, including industry, for the jobs that Wicklow absolutely requires and needs. In all my dealings with Wicklow over the years, this has been a key factor in developing the county, not to mention agriculture or the people on group water schemes in Wicklow, who pay for their water and who need high assurances about the quality of that water. I ask the Deputy to pick up the telephone and ask them to speak to their manager. I am shocked that they would permit a letter to issue.

They do not have influence. It is a management decision.

What are they doing?

What are you doing?

They are paid a part-time stipend. What are they doing if they are not speaking to their manager about this?

If anyone had any doubts as to whether you give a toss about struggling families, your smart-alec, dismissive and inaccurate response gave them their answer.

That is not fair.

Through the Chair, please.

A smart-alec Tánaiste thinks it is smart to disregard the concerns of RAS tenants that their inability to pay her awful charge could jeopardise their homes.

Cop on. It was a failing of the previous Administration.

You stood up to give me a smart-alec response. That is not good enough. I apologise if this breaches Dáil etiquette, but let us call it what it is.

That is rich coming from you.

The fact is that local authority management administers government policy. Despite - I presume - knowing how people struggle, the Government is insistent on these water charges. Council management, on behalf of the Tánaiste, has written to tenants-----

That is not true.

-----to state that failure to pay the charge will jeopardise their homes.

The councils decide that policy.

Order, please.

Let us try again to get an answer, and let us hope for a serious and respectful answer from the Tánaiste.

She will have to take advice.

The fact is that people are struggling, never mind the €100 alleviation. People are down to their cents. Does the Tánaiste understand that? They do not have the money to pay. Can she please get to her feet and confirm for the 36,000 families on RAS that their failure to pay this bill will not mean - be categoric - that they lose the roofs over their heads?

Deal with the real issues, not point scoring.

Can she at least have the decency to answer that question directly for those families?

The Minister of State, Deputy Simon Harris, will tell her what to say.

Jackie Healy-Rae will tell his son what to say.

I ask for silence to allow the Tánaiste to respond.

In regard to my concerns about families who are on low incomes or are unemployed, the budget contains €200 million of spending. I am happy to say this includes the restoration of the Christmas bonus on a partial basis and the payment to the kinds of family to which Deputy McDonald referred, and all the other families in Ireland, of a small but significant sum of €5 per month in child benefit.

That was not the question.

It would not buy a pack of nappies.

For families in this category, this is about my concern to see those families and their children prosper and thrive. A back to work family dividend of €30 per week will be paid where somebody in the household takes up employment. I am not sure that Deputy McDonald has much personal experience of what it is like not to be well off or to be unemployed.

You are getting personal now.

In choosing to lecture me about issues like that-----

I am looking for your answer.

-----or other Deputies-----

Would you ever answer a question?

Answer a question about your own party's policy.

Angry words.

The Tánaiste was asked a question and I ask the House to allow her to reply.

She has not answered the question.

I will answer it now.

Let the Minister of State, Deputy Harris, answer it.

My understanding - perhaps Deputy Pearse Doherty will be able to clarify the matter - is that the chairperson of the housing special policy committee, SPC, in Wicklow is a representative of Sinn Féin.

That is your policy.

My understanding-----

This derisory-----

Order, please.

In fairness to Sinn Féin, it has taken on responsibilities in the North. It has included-----

Answer the question. "Yes" or "No".

Anger.

There are a lot of angry men in Sinn Féin. Try to control it.

There is a lot of worry among Labour Party Deputies.

Still no answer.

It is being turned on and off like the water tap. Try to put a stop to it.

Answer the question.

The same letter would apply to all people on rent supplement.

Deputy Ellis, that is enough.

Stick with the script.

Deputy Ellis has long experience and a good record of working on Dublin City Council. He knows as well as I do what an SPC does.

I also know what a contract is.

Listen up.

This is Leaders' Questions. You all want to be leaders.

The chairperson of the housing SPC should take that up directly with the county manager.

Are you saying there is no policy?

That is what I would expect him to do.