Department splashed out extra €5.7m for Irish Water

Embattled Environment Minster Phil Hogan’s department splashed out €5.7m more than budgeted for on its share of setting up Irish Water, figures reveal.

The department had planned to pump €10m into the controversial project, but this surged to €15.7m, the Oireachtas environment committee was told.

The revelation of the extra cost provoked renewed opposition criticism of the handling of start-up costs for the utility, which come to €180m in total. There was uproar when it emerged €86m of that was going on outside consultants.