Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 9 July 2013

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government

Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised)

2:50 pm

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The key point is that it is fine if one can provide one's self with safe, treated, potable water. The reason people have group water schemes is usually that they cannot do this, and so they get together to provide such a supply.

The example in Mayo is fantastic. It involves not only the householders but also their children. The committee will be glad to hear they that have water deputies; I got my little badge stating I had been made a water deputy of that scheme and I was a powerful man. Young school-going children look out for leaks and report them back. It is a wonderful community. It is really worth looking at. In fact, the Chairman should invite them to the committee to talk about what they do, because it is remarkable.

If a group water scheme requested that Irish Water take it over, that would be a matter for it and Irish Water. It would not be for Irish Water to make such a request. The request would come from the community.

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