James Breen (Clare, Independent)

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of local and national importance, the ongoing health risks affecting the people of Ennis, County Clare, owing to the contamination of the town's water supply, which has been substandard for some years. It is the subject of constant "boil water" notices, but no action has been taken. Furthermore, the water system is operating at maximum capacity and there has been a failure to upgrade it, including a lack of action on the waste-water consultants' report commissioned by Ennis Town Council and forwarded to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in 2002. The content of that report is out of date, further compromising the quality of the water and sewerage system and increasing the health risk to the public. It is envisaged that planning permission for housing developments will not be granted for the foreseeable future, with a serious impact on the labour market and causing prices in an already inflated property market to rise yet further. That is what the Taoiseach thinks of the people of Clare.

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