Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

I am sure Deputy McCormack would have been much more active in this matter than certain current councillors, who preach about the green agenda but do not practise it when they are in power in their local council. I have clarified that funding of €21.5 million has been in place for some time for the Terryland upgrade and I look forward to the council coming forward with the proposals.

Returning to the first point, I agree with Deputy McCormack — I also spoke privately to Deputy Michael D. Higgins who is not in the Chamber but who I am sure has been inadvertently detained — that it is wrong that 90,000 people should be without water. It is doubly wrong when 90,000 in an important city and surrounding area are without water when the funding is in place. Deputy McCormack and other public representatives in the area and, more importantly, the people of Galway, are entitled to an explanation for that.

I give Deputy McCormack and this House an assurance that I will do everything in my power to ensure that as soon as the brief comes up, it will not stay for a moment longer than required in my Department. I have also stated that I made clear to my Department that I want it to be helpful and to assist Galway through this great difficulty, particularly given the time of year. As Deputy McCormack stated, it is not just an inconvenience but is a threat to public health and to life itself. That is not acceptable, particularly when local councils have funding available to them. Deputy McCormack can assure his constituents, as I have assured all the other public representatives in the area, that I will encourage the council to be ambitious and will encourage my Department to co-operate fully with Galway to bring this matter to an end.

See this speech in context