Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted the Ceann Comhairle chose this issue. It is a critical issue for people seeking a rural water supply and affects in particular counties such as Mayo and other rural counties.

10 o’clock

I ask that the Minister, Deputy Kelly, would, in accordance with the recent recommendation of the national rural water services committee, implement its recommendation and thus provide a special funding mechanism to grant aid new group water schemes which were in the pipeline for delivery in certain disadvantaged rural areas but which lost out upon the cessation of CLÁR funding and which, under the current funding rules, are not viable for delivery because of funding shortfalls, leaving affected households without a proper water supply and in limbo for a number of years. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Phelan, for coming to the House. I am disappointed the Minister, Deputy Kelly, is not present but I know the Minister of State's brief and know she is pushing the rural agenda.

In the context of the legislation we voted on earlier and the issue of people paying for water, there are seven areas in my county - Massbrook, Aghaloonteen, Downpatrick Head, Carracastle, Kilmurray, Tonacrick and Fermoyle - which contain 235 houses where people cannot drink the water or bathe in the water, in many cases for years. The problem arises from ground conditions. Many people have spent a small fortune trying to drill wells and access other sources, all to no avail. Until CLÁR ceased in 2009-2010, many of these schemes were in the pipeline, with many of the people on these schemes having spent money and made contributions towards design and planning. I know of one scheme where €36,000 was spent but nothing was seen for it. If these people want to progress the scheme again, they will have to spend more money on engineers and they have no assurance they will get through under the current funding rules.

I raised this issue with the Minister's predecessor, Mr. Phil Hogan. I had a Topical Issue matter in 2013 and, at that stage, the national rural water services committee had been examining how the issue might be addressed, given CLÁR was finished. Basically, the cost of delivering these schemes per household is a lot more expensive because of the terrain and the dispersed populations. At that stage, the then Minister made some changes to the rules, which came in during 2014 and saw the amount allowable per household increased from €6,500 to €7,500. Believe it or not, of the seven schemes I have named, while we thought two of them would get through the net, each of them still has a shortfall.

It is imperative these people know they are not forgotten about. Some have been waiting 20 years for water. It is a disgrace to hear some of the Deputies on the other side of the House talk about human rights and everything else, which I would call a lot of baloney, when many people in rural Ireland are already paying for water. I was in contact with a woman tonight who told me how fearful she was when she was sick because she did not know where she was going to get water. She is out in the middle of nowhere and relying on neighbours to bring potable water in order that she could drink and be looked after. She said she had a cheque ready and would pay for the water without a problem. These people know that pipes have to go into the ground and there is a need for infrastructure and water treatment as well as ongoing costs. They are willing to pay for that but they do not have water, yet here, we have the problems of privilege. People here have water and can turn on a tap like they would flick an electricity switch on a wall. Are people in rural Ireland second-class citizens when it comes to human rights? I never heard one of the speakers raise that issue, even though they are against any sort of payment for anything, as far as I can see.

This matter has been going on for quite some time. Efforts have been made and our economic climate has changed. I believe these people in rural Ireland should be prioritised. They should have a basic right to water. It is not a question of whether they should pay for it. These people will pay. They should have water when they turn on their tap for their children, for the elderly and for everyone else.

I know the Minister of State will agree with me. Now that the rural water services committee has deliberated in conjunction with my own county council, I know the Minister, Deputy Kelly, will deliver. We have been allocated €400,000 for new group water schemes and we cannot spend one red cent of it given the way the rules stand. Something has to give or it is a complete nonsense. I ask that the same priority be given to this and that we could have a focus on these people, who do not have water, compared with the people who do have water but who do not want to pay for anything or to address problems in wastewater and water treatment.

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