As we speak, there are approximately 20,000 households without water, 50,000 with a reduced flow of water and more than 1 million in Dublin with a restricted supply. The programme for Government contains a commitment to protect plans set out by Irish water to upgrade our water infrastructure. The events of recent days highlight the fact that the capital investment plan, published by the previous Government of which the Taoiseach was a member, is not sufficient to address the challenges posed. Domestic water charges have been overwhelmingly rejected. Lest the Taoiseach feels tempted to make the link between that matter and the difficulties in the here and now, he should bear in mind that Irish Water has exactly the same amount of capital funding as it would have done had domestic water charges gone ahead. Is he prepared to make a commitment for additional capital funding for 2019 to start getting to grips with this?

I thank the Deputy for her question. Let us not make a political issue out of the very serious difficulties people across the country are facing as a result of Storm Emma-----

I agree.

-----and the incredible work being done by Irish Water and its crews, day in and day out, to get water restored to hospitals, to schools and to people with very difficult illnesses who require care at home. Irish Water is doing tremendous work. It is good to see Deputies supporting Irish Water. There is significant investment in Irish Water to allow it to upgrade infrastructure, to build new treatment plants and new wastewater treatment plants. This commitment was extended to 2027 in the national development plan. The funding is there. Significant funding is in place and plans are under way to protect our water infrastructure and to improve our water system.

It is important to note that where one does not have to pay for a utility, one does not respect that utility and one will waste that utility. This is as true for water as it would be for electricity. In difficult times, such as those we are experiencing at the moment, there is more demand on a service and its costs more to fix that service. There is a link between the two.

Then introduce fairer taxes.

The Minister's time is up.

People do pay, just as they pay the Minister's wages.

People do not pay directly for this utility in the same way they pay for electricity.

The Minister's time is up.

If people did not have to pay directly for electricity, does Deputy McDonald believe people would keep the lights on or off?