The Minister for Environment is being urged to answer questions over claims that the meter installation firm, Siteserv, is seeking more money from Irish Water.

Sinn Féin Environment, Community & Local Government spokesperson, Brian Stanley, confirmed Siteserv is seeking to recoup extra costs incurred by sub-contractors in the installation of water meters from Irish Water.

-- Advertisement --

Mr Stanley said: "Despite having raised this issue a number of weeks ago, I have yet to receive any response from the Minister in relation to the matter and a number of questions remain unanswered. The most pressing of which is; does the Minister remain confident, that the €539m taken from the National Pension Reserve fund will cover the cost of this failed metering program?

"Furthermore, does Irish Water intend on frittering away yet more money on the installation program? Would it not make more fiscal sense to instead utilise the remaining funds in upgrading our decaying, leaking water infrastructure directly?

"Minster Kelly needs to understand silence is not an adequate response on matters of such critical importance."

(CD/MH)