I remind Deputy Adams that the contribution being requested of single people living on their own or with children under the age of 18 is €1.15 a week.

Answer the question.

The charge that a household of two adults or more will be asked to pay is €3 a week.

Irrespective of income.

People do not want to pay.

Deputy Adams regularly refers to meters. Obviously, when meters are installed, they give people an opportunity to conserve water and beat the cap.

They do not.

People cannot beat the cap.

Meters also provide an opportunity to determine where leaks are.

There is no beating the cap.

The more leaks that are fixed, the less treated water goes to waste.

The meters are the electronic voting machines of this Government.

That, in turn, will lead to a reduction in the cost to be met by the public when that water is being provided in the first place. Obviously, a comprehensive metering programme will have a much more effective and efficient infrastructure to deliver high-quality water to businesses and consumers all over the country.