Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I move:

That Dáil Éireann:

- notes the swift response and work of local authority workers during the cold weather emergency;

- condemns the Government for its slow national response to the recent weather crisis;

- is concerned that no national co-ordination plan for severe weather emergencies is in place to co-ordinate local plans at a national level;

- recognises the social and economic hardship caused by water restrictions and by local transport network disruptions;

- recognises that an inefficient, outdated and fragmented water network has contributed to water problems across the State;

- notes with concern that on average 43% of Ireland's treated water supply was lost through unidentified leaks before the recent severe cold weather;

- notes the refusal of the Government to put additional financial measures in place to address severely damaged local and regional roads; and

- recognises that the 32% cut in the regional and local road upkeep budget implemented by the Department of Transport last year compounded damage caused by cold weather; and

calls on the Government to:

- establish a single water semi-State utility company to take over responsibility for water investment and management on a national basis;

- re-allocate future water funding from the Exchequer to prioritise water conservation;

- examine all engineering resources of the State to ensure a rapid remedy to widespread burst water mains;

- develop and test as a matter of priority a national severe weather emergency plan that outlines the actions to be taken by the Government and its agencies; and

- provide additional funding for the restoration of severely damaged local and regional roads for reasons of road safety and to minimise costly reconstruction costs caused by further deterioration.

I wish to share my time with Deputies Shane McEntee, Paul Connaughton, Michael Ring, John Perry, Seymour Crawford and Simon Coveney.

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