Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this issue and I congratulate Deputy Hogan on tabling this motion. This issue has been coming down the tracks, so to speak, for a number of years. Alarm bells should really have been ringing last year during the extreme difficulties in the post-Christmas period. At that time Deputy Hogan introduced a debate in the House on the issue. All sorts of promises were made yet again this year, but people are suffering severe hardship and economic loss at a time when we cannot afford economic losses. Water restrictions applied in my own constituency, including in Newcastlewest where it created significant hardship and disruption. At this stage of our development and post the Celtic tiger period, we are still regarded as a successful nation, regardless of our problems. However, to have 43% of our water being lost into the ground is an absolute disgrace. If there was that level of waste in any other service, it would not be tolerated. Why is the waste of water tolerated? Water is expensive to process and treat and a commodity that is absolutely necessary for survival. The problems are not new.

I am involved with several group water schemes. Admittedly with the assistance of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, they have overcome the leaks and wastage, yet the national grid cannot do so. I fully support the proposal to rationalise the 34 different bodies dealing with water supply and to have instead a single national body for water utility, with delegation to the various councils to implement a national plan. I refer the House to the success of the Road Safety Authority in reducing road accidents and fatalities, even though the figures are still too high. However, a concerted national effort resulted in a certain degree of success and it is hoped this will continue. The same approach should be applied to ensure that a very important basic commodity, water, is properly supplied and properly managed in the country.

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