Are there plans to ensure that Uisce Éireann becomes more accountable to this House? The level of response and the slow rate of response to queries from Members of the Oireachtas is not acceptable. I would like the Taoiseach to commit to raising this with the chief executive of Uisce Éireann. The problem is that we are forced to table questions in this House and they are then disallowed, but we cannot get any answers from Uisce Éireann. I have specifically raised on a number of occasions plans for the development of the Ferns and Camolin wastewater treatment plant in County Wexford and Aughrim wastewater treatment plant in County Wicklow. We have seen water out yet again in Gorey in the past number of days. I appreciate the Taoiseach cannot get involved in every scheme or issue but the level of communication from Uisce Éireann to elected members is not acceptable.

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I know he has raised it previously. Uisce Éireann is subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General and is accountable to the Committee of Public Accounts but that is more in terms of the broader governance issues. It is also subject to requirements of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and has, I understand, established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. It has acknowledged, as I said earlier, that there are concerns around the effectiveness of communications of Uisce Éireann with public representatives. It has undertaken a review of elected representative engagement, with input from across its entire business, which is due to be concluded shortly. I will engage again with the Minister in light of this discussion with the Deputy and others in respect of a need to change and maybe demonstrate, by experience, an improvement.