Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)

Water is a basic necessity of life and citizens should have a statutory entitlement to good quality water that is free from impurities and from anything that might give rise to illness. This right should be a statutory right enshrined in legislation. Issues that have arisen in recent times and in the past mean that water supplies in various areas of the country are not fit for human consumption. Local authorities, which are effectively State agencies, should be able to deliver a water supply that is clean and free from impurities and that poses no danger to health.

Citizens should also be entitled to a sufficient supply of water. When we were growing up we always believed we had too much water but in recent years there have been shortages and deficiencies in supply. A few dry days cause water shortages and water is turned off from midnight until 7 a.m. or 8 a.m. Areas of my constituency have had consistent periods of water turn-off, particularly during last summer. Breakdowns in the system have also occurred frequently. During weekends last summer the area of Slieve Ardagh had no supply of water for humans or animals. The entitlement to a sufficient supply of water should also be enshrined in legislation.

As is the case in south Tipperary, in many local authority areas the networks which carry water supplies have not been upgraded. Up to 50% of supplies can be lost from networks that have not been modernised. In many instances, the pipes that comprise these networks are made from asbestos and this gives rise to other concerns with regard to health and quality of supply.

It is only right that the quality of water should be monitored on an ongoing basis. This monitoring should take place at source, regardless of whether the latter is a borehole, a lake, a mountain stream or whatever. Water should also be monitored on arrival in people's homes, at commercial undertakings or whatever.

Monitoring should be carried out without reference to the costs involved. I heard in recent days that some local authorities have not tested for cryptosporidium because it is too costly to do so. In light of the importance of water in people's lives, its quality is vital. We must ensure, irrespective of cost, that a quality supply of water, which is free of impurities, is delivered. If that means testing for cryptosporidium or other impurities, then we must make arrangements in that regard.

The situation in Galway gives rise to questions of trust as regards monitoring by local and national agencies. A proposal was recently made to locate a dump in my constituency at a place called Hardbog. The dump will be situated close to the River Linaun, which provides the water supply for Carrick-on-Suir. There should be no development of any kind at the dump site until it has been reassessed and re-evaluated from the point of view of ensuring that the River Linaun will not be polluted. An assessment must be carried out by independent international experts in order that everybody can be satisfied that an proper examination has taken place. The need to use such experts arises because of people's perceptions and the fact that there is a lack of trust as regards local and national agencies monitoring our water supplies.

The proposed dump at Hard Bog near Grangemockler in Carrick-on-Suir should not proceed until a full re-evaluation is carried out by independent international experts. No development should take place until a report from such experts is made available to the public for examination.

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