Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for attending the House for this important issue which has been going on since St. Patrick's Day and which concerns the Roundwood reservoir where there is algae growth over the filter beds which means a sufficient amount of water is not getting through. I have spoken to several senior engineers who have said there is enough water in the reservoir - we all know that because we have been rained on for the past number of months - but that it is not getting through the filter beds.

I understand Dublin City Council is looking at this. However, it originally told Wicklow County Council that the issue would be resolved by the end of May but it recently came back and said it would be the end of June at the earliest. The indication I have from officials in Wicklow County Council is that it could go on for several months.

Two nights ago, the water supply in Enniskerry was shut off at 10 p.m. until 7 a.m. the following day. This will continue seven days per week for the foreseeable future. Willow Grove, Delgany and various areas in north Wicklow are being hit. My concern is that, as the water stocks fall and the block in the filters remains, this situation will not only not be fixed but could actually become much worse. Such a concern was expressed to me by a senior engineer in Wicklow County Council two days ago.

I have two specific requests. The first is that the Minister ask his officials to liaise with Dublin City Council to ensure that its engineers have all the resources they need to resolve this. It may be the case that this simply will take a very long time and that it is very complex but I would like to know that the council is not wanting in terms of technology, staff or other resources in order to get this solved very quickly. Second, will somebody look at the locations being cut off? I would be concerned if areas in Wicklow were being cut off by Dublin City Council but that areas in Dublin were not. It might be easier - I am not saying it is - for Dublin City Council to turn off Enniskerry rather than Stillorgan, for example.

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