Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I very much welcome the Deputy's commitment to investment in our water services. I thank him for raising this important issue in the Dáil, as he did last week. Uisce Éireann is working to address the issue of water supplies in Cork city, which I accept is a real issue. There are approximately 600 km of water mains in Cork city. About 50% to 60% of them are made from cast iron and are approximately 100 years old, dating back to the 1920s. Due to the age and deteriorating condition of the pipes, they are prone to burst, which gives rise to leaks. In the old cast iron mains, sediment can become dislodged during repair or upgrade works. That can occasionally be carried through to customers' taps, leading to water that can, very unpleasantly, appear brown or orange when someone turns on a tap.

Uisce Éireann has established a water quality task force, which is dedicated to improving the city's water quality. That task force is now implementing a plan that includes increased sampling at customer taps, at the network and at the treatment plant, intensified flushing programmes and a water mains replacement programme. Uisce Éireann continues to advise people not to drink discoloured water and to run the tap to restore water to a clear colour. The water is safe to drink once it runs clear.

Protecting public health is of course a top priority for Uisce Éireann and the Government, as I am sure it is for everybody in the House. The treatment process used by Uisce Éireann at the Lee Road water treatment plant is fully in line with national and global water treatment standards. Uisce Éireann continues to review the operational performance of the Lee Road water treatment plant. It is also investigating additional options to further improve water services in Cork city.

More broadly, we remain absolutely committed to providing investment in water infrastructure. No one can say that my party ever hid from this issue. Uisce Éireann has invested more than €100 million to improve water supply infrastructure across a number of projects, including the Cork city water supply scheme, which is nearing completion, the replacement of the Churchfield reservoir roof, the upgrade of the Glashaboy water treatment plant, and a new water treatment plant on the Lee Road. These are very significant investments that have been made in the water supply at Cork. I accept there is more to do.

There is a commitment in the programme for Government to ensure that Uisce Éireann is sufficiently funded to make the necessary investment in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. I have written to the Deputy today regarding this matter. I am engaging with the Minister for housing and Uisce Éireann on the timelines and clarity for people in Cork, for whom this is an important issue.

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