Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)

If the Minister is considering doing something about the staffing embargo, that is welcome. In an article in the current council magazine, Council Review, Mr. Ray Earle, a Dublin City Council manager of the eastern river basin district project, said the Department believes local authorities have enough staff to deal with this issue. Mr. Earle said local authorities do not have enough resources and there is an embargo on recruitment. He said staff levels are inadequate in all local authorities. This is a serious problem. The water supply has been polluted in places such as Galway. Something was recently reported about that. The cryptosporidium bacterium has serious health consequences. This is a major area in which we must take action. In complying with the water framework directive we have an opportunity to do something about water quality. Ireland has a major economic reliance on agriculture and tourism. If last year's problems in Galway are repeated it will cause problems for our tourism industry. The Minister must make a specific commitment. I would like the Minister to say he will give local authorities more staff to do their work in this area and that the EPA will have extra staff specifically related to this directive.

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