Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for their views, which are most welcome. While I do not necessarily agree with everything they said, it is important that they said it. I agree that the absence of Members who have been significant players in this economy and who are responsible for the arrival of the troika in the first place is regrettable. They marched their troops out and then they marched them in for a vote and then marched them out again. That does not make sense.

I accept the points made by the Deputies. I will deal specifically with Roscommon in the first part of my reply. As I have clarified, almost 90% of the population currently affected by boil-water notices are in Roscommon. In addition, information was provided in the note on the Burncourt and Fethard regional water supply scheme, which will address the issue of boil-water notices in south Tipperary. With regard to Roscommon, the key points are that in November 2013 the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, approved funding of €12 million for the construction of five new water treatment plants and one pumping station for the Arigna, Boyle-Ardcarne, Roscommon central and south Roscommon regional water supply schemes. In December, the Minister approved funding of €4 million for the construction of interconnecting pipework on the Boyle-Ardcarne and Arigna water supply schemes.

Issues have been raised about the Castlerea regional water scheme. Boil-water notices were issued in November 2009 and the HSE requested that they remain in place as a precautionary measure in February 2010. Cryptosporidium was found in the water supply. In November 2011 Roscommon County Council commissioned the installation of a UV disinfection system as an interim measure. The works were completed in April 2012 and the boil-water notice was subsequently lifted. In July 2012 Roscommon County Council took the decision to reinstate the boil-water notice as a precautionary measure as the water quality had deteriorated further and the system could not operate effectively outside a validated range. The long-term solution for the scheme is the installation of a full water treatment plant and the amalgamation of the scheme within the Castlerea urban water supply. The design review report was approved by the Department in April 2013 and the procurement of consultants to progress the project is under way.

As regards the Roscommon central regional water scheme, a boil-water notice was issued on 25 April 2013. Cryptosporidium was found in the water supply and illnesses were confirmed to the HSE. The installation of a temporary treatment system was identified as an interim solution. A package UV treatment plant was installed over a ten-week period. The final cost of the works was €430,055, and they were 75% funded by the small schemes programme 2013. The boil-water notice was removed on 9 August 2013 following completion of the works, clear tests on the water supply and no further cases of illness. The scheme has recently been approved for funding for a new water treatment plant under the four regional water supply schemes.

Regarding the Boyle-Ardcarne water scheme, a boil water notice was issued on 13 May as cryptosporidium had been found in the water supply and related illnesses had been confirmed by the Health Service Executive. The notice remains in place as a precautionary measure as there is no cryptosporidium barrier in place. A direction was issued by the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure a robust treatment scheme would be in place by August 2014. The scheme has recently been approved for funding as a new water treatment plant coming under the four regional water supply scheme projects. In addition, approval of the allocation of €4 million was granted for the construction of interconnecting pipeworks.

Regarding water supplies in south Roscommon, a boil water notice was issued on 24 October for supplies from the Killeglan source as cryptosporidium had been found in the water supply and related illnesses had been confirmed by the HSE. This is the first such incident confirmed for this water supply. It should be noted that both sources in the south Roscommon schemes are vulnerable and considered to be very high risk for cryptosporidium contamination. They have been added to the remedial action list.

The EPA has audited the supply and Roscommon County Council is awaiting its report. There is ongoing communication between the HSE and the council. A decision on how long the boil water notice will remain in place in advance of the new water treatment plant being commissioned has yet to be made.

Irish Water cannot be blamed for existing water quality problems, whether in County Roscommon, County Clare or wherever else.

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