Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

It is not a "no go" area. Boiling the water more than adequately deals with the problem and I understand guesthouses and hotels have taken steps on which I commend them.

Deputy O'Dowd asked a second and much more pertinent question, which is also the subject of Question No. 12. It pertains to the monitoring of water supplies. I agree with him. Last month, I introduced new water monitoring regulations that directly follow up on the suggestions made in the last EPA report. The regulations make monitoring mandatory and include a requirement for accessible public information in this regard.

The EPA's last two reports raised concerns regarding the quality and volume of monitoring taking place and indicated that while some local authorities were very good, others were not. One of the plants identified specifically as being at risk was the old Terryland plant. This is the reason there is so much mystification regarding the delays in Galway. However, this has been changed. The new regulations were introduced before the outbreak and I understand they took effect on 8 March. If Question No. 12 is reached, this issue can be dealt with in greater detail. However, I agree with Deputy O'Dowd that it is extremely important.

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