Irish Water accountability
Senator Ó Clochartaigh argues that Irish Water has failed to match local-authority planning for wastewater projects and asks the Minister to explain executive pay and value for money.
We all remember the debates in this House when the former Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, told us Irish Water would save the water system. What has become clear, however, is that the local authorities were actually doing a much better job than the new body is. In my own area, for example, there was at least a plan in place under the local authority for places like Carraroe, Spiddal and Athenry. When we ask questions of Irish Water, there is no answer forthcoming as to when those types of projects will be delivered. There has been much talk recently about the salaries paid to Irish Farmers Association officials but we seem to have forgotten the huge salaries being paid to executives in Irish Water. As I understand it, 29 or so staff are earning a basic wage of more than €100,000.
Comment on this
Some of them, moreover, are eligible for 15% bonuses on top of that. It would be useful for the Minister to come to the House to give a breakdown of how much we are paying these Irish Water executives and indicate whether we are getting value for money or if the money would be better spent on progressing projects around the country to deal with the sewage problems that have been highlighted by the EPA.