Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Vice Chairman for allowing me to contribute.

Yesterday, I had a meeting with Irish Water. The issue of water quality has been raised at this committee numerous times. The greatest obstacle I have found is the connection and communication between Irish Water, local authorities and local representatives. On a positive note, my meeting with Irish Water yesterday was the most positive meeting I have ever had with it since becoming a Deputy. It was able to give me a roadmap of various projects that were ongoing or had already happened. We have had a boil notice in Fedamore for nearly a year and a half, but Irish Water was able to provide me with a programme of when the works would be finished.

This is an important issue. The connection must not just be between Irish Water and local authorities, but also with local representatives, by whom I mean councillors and Deputies, so that we can get the message to the people on the ground who are asking the questions and give them a roadmap. At our meeting, we were able to discuss how Irish Water had told this committee that it was going to sort out the issue in the next couple of weeks. When we went through each project, though, Irish Water showed us that it could not meet the targets it had set. I would prefer to hear targets that can be met rather than spin and everything going around in circles.

Collaboration between local authorities, Irish Water and public representatives is the way forward for any project. Funding to carry out projects must also be made available. For example, Askeaton has been waiting for a sewerage plant going on 33 years. We are now being told that the project is not included in the budgets up to 2024 but that it will be in the 2025 budget. At least I have been given a year for the project to happen. Regarding water supplies in Fedamore, I have been told that Irish Water has hopes for the first quarter of next year. Due to boil notices, having fresh water in their houses is costing families in Fedamore €50. At a time when the cost of living has gone through the roof, spending an extra €50 just to be able to drink water, plus the extra €50 on fuel, does not make sense.

I would like projects to be more transparent, proper dates to be targeted and proper funding to be in place so that Irish Water can carry out the works. Being briefed that the works will happen is important.