Taoiseach was ‘fully aware’ of set-up cost

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said he was fully aware of the €180m set-up costs of Irish Water, but he did not specify whether he had knowledge of the €85m spent on consultancies.

Speaking in the Dáil, Mr Kenny said he took full responsibility for the policy decision of moving the operations of 34 local authorities to a single utility which would save over €1bn.

Responding to questions from Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, the Taoiseach said Irish Water was a public utility “and, therefore, there is nothing that should be a secret about it and nothing that will be a secret about it”.