Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have been called to "explain in detail" where the funding to improve Ireland's water infrastructure will come form.

The Green Party has welcomed the positive developments by the two parties that Irish Water is to remain on the state's balance sheet.

Green Party Leader and TD for Dublin Bay South, Eamon Ryan, said: "Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil must explain in detail how this new Irish Water will work though. How are the critically needed improvements to our water infrastructure going to be paid for? Now that Irish Water is to remain on the state's balance sheet, we can't borrow for it, as was the original plan, without adding to our national debt.

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"Water is a precious resource, and it needs to be invested in. We need to monitor, measure, detect leaks and charge for wasteful use. That requires significant resources to do correctly.

"The change from a commercial utility to a state body is a welcome one. Irish Water, as a revenue raising commercial entity, was never going to work. We welcome the announcement that the new charging structure will encourage conservation, while allocating a generous free allowance to everyone in the state to ensure their needs are met."

(CD/MH)