Sir, – If the 300 staff of Irish Water receive an average bonus of €7,000, or 10 per cent per year (Home News, January 16th) then they will have an average gross wage of €70,000. This compares favourably (for Irish Water staff) with the average wage in Ireland in 2011 of €50,764 according to OECD statistics. From the same statistics source, the average wage in Germany in 2011 was €41,170. – Yours, etc,
NOEL Mc BRIDE
Neckarstrasse,
Karlsruhe, Germany.
Sir, – The Celtic Tiger must be back on its feet when the expending of €86 million on “consultants”, is considered “micro” by the responsible Minister. There must be something in his water! – Yours, etc,
HUGH DOYLE,
Lagore Road,
Dunshaughlin, Co Meath.
Sir, – These people are spending money like water! – Yours, etc,
JOE O’ROURKE,
Woodpark,
Ballinteer, Dublin 16.
Sir, – The only question that needs to be asked in this affair is why were people who did not know what to do appointed to set the company up in the first place? – Yours, etc,
DAVID FITZGERALD,
Kulmakatu,
Iisalmi, Finland.
Sir, – I admit to being a little swamped among the flood of charges flowing against Irish Water. If I had access to its newly purchased geographic information system perhaps I might find my way to safety. Then again, I could contact the Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI) for access to the most recent and advanced geographic information system technology. The OSI supplies GIS expertise to Bord Gáis. Why does Irish Water need its own system? As preparation for privatisation or simply because it knew it had the money to spend? – Yours, etc,
ALAN COUNIHAN,
Johnswell,
Co Kilkenny.
Sir, – In The Irish Times on January 15th: Crisis in secure care provision for children" (Page 5); HSE "cannot afford to meet some priorities" (Page 9); and "Hogan says he did not know how much Irish Water spent" (Front Page).
When is the next election? – Yours, etc,
JENNY Mc GEEVER,
North King Street, Dublin 7.
Sir, – The flat rate fees (Home News, January 6th) for Irish Water in its first year seem high (Home News, January 15th), one can only hope the installation of a money meter will encourage a more economical use of this precious resource. – Yours, etc,
JOJO BOYLE,
Rue Victoria,
Longueuil,
Quebec, Canada.
Sir, – Since the executive and board of Irish Water are confident it was not profligate in its spending to date, perhaps it might invite Comptroller and Auditor General to review all transactions, and thus clear the air? – Yours, etc,
D O’SHEA,
Pinecroft Grange, Cork.