Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)

I congratulate the trustees of the Caherlistrane-Kilcoona group water scheme, which is the scheme in my area, for agreeing to provide a water supply to the town of Headford to ensure that its residents have a potable water supply until this problem has been solved. Is the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, who has referred almost exclusively to Galway city and its environs in his comments this evening, aware that this problem is not confined to those areas? It is affecting a large section of County Galway, including Headford, Tuam, Corofin and Athenry. Does the Minister agree that the words he has uttered about this problem have not contributed to reaching an immediate solution? He has focused on the allocation of the infamous €21.5 million and claimed that Galway City Council has not responded adequately. His approach has not helped to find the short-term solution that is needed in this instance. Given that the buck stops with the Minister — he is ultimately responsible because the local authority is under his control — will he provide the leadership that is needed?

Does the Minister, Deputy Roche, agree that the pollution of the water supply of a large portion of County Galway represents a serious emergency? Does he accept that the full weight of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government needs to be brought to bear in these circumstances? Does he share the view that all available expert opinion needs to be used by local authorities if they are to deal with this problem? Given that there have been similar outbreaks in Belfast and Milwaukee, will the Minister and the local authorities seek advice from their counterparts in those cities? Will the Minister look for details of the action that was taken in those cities to get their problems under control? For example, we need to learn more about the measures that were put in place in Belfast and Milwaukee to prevent a recurrence of such outbreaks.

The Minister has criticised Galway County Council by claiming that it has not acted to modernise its water treatment facilities. Does he wish to make further criticisms of the council, or is he satisfied with its handling of the situation? Is he satisfied that the council has used the resources provided to it for water schemes and water treatment facilities in an expedient manner? Is he aware of the cause of the outbreak? Has the source of the outbreak been identified? If not, have any possible causes been eliminated as a result of investigations? Will the Minister explain how the problems being experienced in County Galway, which are like those that exist in Third World countries, have been allowed to develop at a time when we enjoy all the benefits of modern technology? Are we applying the best technology that is available to us?

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