Dáil debates

Thursday, 11 December 2014

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed)

 

1:35 pm

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The investment made and commitments given by the Government in respect of solving the issues in Roscommon are the most significant to date. To be fair, everyone accepts that. The investment to which I refer must be continued, particularly in the context of the work Irish Water will carry out. As the Deputies are more than aware, some people have had boil water notices in place for ten, 12 or 15 years. That is outrageous. A generation has grown up with this as a way of life, which is absolutely insane.

The specifics relating to this matter are not quite as simple as they might first appear. I hereby give a commitment to examine the documentation supplied to Deputy Naughten by Roscommon County Council and Irish Water.

We must accept that the CER has given a policy direction to the effect that 100% of water coming in is to be free where there is a boil water notice in operation, but that wastewater, which is completely different, must be paid for. I have to abide by the policy decision made previously and the policy direction given by the CER.

With regard to the technologies and the use of temporary water treatment facilities, I am no expert and do not know whether anyone in this House is. When making decisions on this and on what is appropriate, I must be guided by the technical experts, particularly those on the books of Irish Water who have been brought in from various sources. Those concerned have made massive savings on foot of some of the decisions they have made to date on water and wastewater treatment facilities. The technical experts and I must all be guided by the EPA, as it must be satisfied everything is right. In this regard, public health is paramount. It is on the basis of these principles that we have gone down the road we have gone down.

I acknowledge the role of the CER and its direction. From an investment perspective, however, I understand the concerns and issues that arise in the county in question, which has had serious issues historically. The Deputies should please acknowledge that the current Government is the first to be committed to getting to the bottom of this. The approach might not be as quick as both Deputies requested and there may be some issues arising in regard to the months. The Deputy referenced May and March, but I believe they were in the same year. I would rather make the right decisions, based on the expert advice I have outlined and which the relevant agencies and I must take, than rush into things. That is the spirit in which this is being done.

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