FINE GAEL has proposed that responsibility for water investment and services be transferred from local authorities to a new State company.

Environment spokesman Phil Hogantold the Dáil many of the problems associated with the system – which was fragmented on a county-by-county basis – would be overcome by having one utility company. "It is a progressive plan that seeks to fix the current system and to provide a better quality of service to homeowners and businesses alike," said.

“In addition, one company can achieve significant economies of scale by planning for water investments across the country.”

Mr Hogan was speaking during a debate on a Fine Gael Private Members’ motion proposing the new State company and criticising the Government’s response to the recent spell of extreme weather.

He said “a little leadership and modest amount of willpower” was all that was required to implement the FG proposal.

Minister for the Environment John Gormleysaid he was "bemused by Fine Gael's ability to criticise the Government for the number of State agencies in existence, while at the same time proposing the establishment of a new one".

He said the investment in water conservation, and the implementation of water metering, needed to be advanced.

His department, he said, would be writing to local authorities to remind them of the development management requirements under building regulations and site development guidelines.

“While we rightly expect to turn on our taps to see good quality water flowing out, we often fail to appreciate the costs and complexity of providing this basic service, or that prolonged periods without water, such as experienced by some consumers this winter, are indeed very rare,” said Mr Gormley.