Dr. Michelle Minihan:

In relation to Longford central the treatment plant simply was not able to perform to the standards required to ensure that a suitable barrier against the parasite cryptosporidium was maintained and the filters were not performing satisfactorily. The EPA performed an on-site audit there in late November 2021 - I do not have the exact date here today - and we were accompanied, I believe, by the HSE, Irish Water and Longford County Council on the day. The risks were very clearly there and acknowledged by everyone on-site and the boil water notice was necessary to protect public health. An ongoing upgrade of the Longford central plant under way to address a few issues there - both trihalomethanes, THMs, and filter performance. It is on our remedial action list and is one that we are watching closely and that we are-----