Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The reality is that every commodity one uses must be paid for. Up until now, the water consumed by Irish people was provided in a very haphazard way by local authorities. We all know this to be the case because many of us were members of those authorities in the past. We are aware that sewage was pumped into surface water and that wells were contaminated. God only knows the amount of fuel and other chemicals that have seeped into lands and affected surface water in Deputy Ó Caoláin's constituency as a result of diesel laundering taking place across the Border. People in the area could possibly be consuming water that has been tainted. Now we have in place an entity that will be able to deal with this matter once and for all.

What is wrong with giving people who dug their own wells or developed their own group water schemes €100 each year to defray some of the costs involved? Why are those on the benches opposite so anti rural Ireland? This is the first time an Irish Government has done something to provide potable water for people who live on family farms or whose dwellings are located on the sides of mountains or in other isolated areas. These individuals are obliged to dig their own wells and sometimes the water supply from them can be contaminated with iron or be full of lime. As a result, they must put in place a treatment system or use a water softener. The Deputies opposite want to take the €100 a year to which I refer away from them. They want to dismantle the one contribution that has ever been afforded to these people by the Government. It is no wonder that not a single Deputy who represents a rural constituency would put his or her name to this motion.

I am sure Deputy Healy will encourage people in south Tipperary and those in Borrisoleigh and Roscrea to claim the €100 when the time comes to do so. I am also sure farmers in west Wicklow and east Carlow have already contacted Deputy Donnelly's office in order to discover how they might obtain the €100 conservation grant. Are those opposite seriously stating that they are going to tell people not to claim the grant because it is Government money? It is easy for Deputy Joan Collins and the other Members who represent constituencies in the capital to tell people in Dublin, who have services coming out of their ears, not to claim the grant. Deputy Pringle might well laugh but he represents a constituency in what, in geographical terms, is one of the largest counties in the country. He is aware of how difficult it is for a homeowner in County Donegal to ensure his or her property passes a percolation test. He may laugh but people need to desludge their septic tanks and they will welcome the €100 the Government is going to provide to them. I do not think the staff in the Deputy's office are going to send out letters to people in Donegal not to claim the €100 being provided by the Minister, Deputy Kelly. Perhaps he will do so, however.

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