Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Irish Water is proposing to pump yet more water into Dublin’s cripplingly compromised, leaking water supply system. The Shannon project would be one of Ireland’s biggest infrastructure projects, but the analysis on which it was based was littered with mathematical and analytical errors. Corrected analysis, using Irish Water's selected methodology and its current leakage targets, shows that, technically, no new raw water source is needed, although the Kennedy analysis notes that Dublin would benefit from diversification away from its current almost exclusive reliance on surface water sources. A much smaller and less expensive alternative to the Shannon project could provide this. The Shannon project is yet another surface water source and it would be a reckless waste of scarce financial resources.

I mean no disrespect to the Minister of State, Deputy Phelan, but I am disappointed that the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, is not present. The Kennedy analysis has notified Irish Water of the errors in its analysis and that many of its public statements about the need for this project have been false or highly misleading. Irish Water's reaction to the Kennedy analysis has been highly defensive. Instead of addressing the issues, Irish Water makes unrelated and irrelevant statements. Its responses deny the most undeniable errors and even back-track on issues that it had conceded during its meeting with Emma Kennedy in February 2017. Instead of attempting to justify its position on many issues, Irish Water gives itself a clean bill of health without providing any substance, stating simply: "Irish Water do not accept this observation."

The Minister of State's former colleague and the former Minister, big Phil the enforcer, as I used to call him, set up Irish Water and gave it far too many powers. It is a monstrosity, as I said at the time, and I oppose it. It is also known in Irish as Uisce Éireann. This project is going to be a white elephant like the children's hospital and will cost billions. Irish Water says it will be €1.2 billion but it will probably run up to €2 billion. It is to pump water into the Dublin system where 57% of the water supply is leaking from the pipes. If it was happening in one's household one would not go off and spend €20,000 on something without first getting the pipes fixed. We must cut our cloth according to the measure, as ordinary people who are paying the bills must do. This is outrageous and cannot be allowed to proceed.

I compliment Mr. Minihan in Tipperary on his research on this. He is one of the landowners affected. He is not the only person but he is aware of the madness of it and the measure of the pipe and the corridor required. It will create great construction jobs - I do not deny that - but it is wrong and silly. The leaks must be fixed first. Not only is water leaking from the pipes into the ground, but contamination material is seeping in. Huge amounts of chlorine, fluoride and so forth must be used to clear the water and make it safe to drink, causing huge damage to people's health with cancer risks and so forth. This is madness. It is bonkers, as the Minister for Finance said with regard to the women who had to leave their jobs due to the marriage ban. It is bonkers to spend that type of money and wreck a community in the country to take water that is not needed. Fix the leaks and there will be surplus water in Dublin. The Minister must examine that. Irish Water cannot be allowed to pull the wool over people's eyes like that. If it does it will be a case of fool me once, it is my problem but fool me twice, it is the Government's problem. The Minister of State is an understanding man. He is a saner type than the last man we had from Kilkenny in this area. He was a bully, and nothing short of it.

This project cannot proceed. I am not anti-Dublin and I want it to be given water, but it should fix the leaks first and ensure there is proper accountability for the water already there with meters on all houses and junctions. I was never opposed to that as we must know what we are using. It is a valuable resource. Treated water being pumped in will put more pressure on a system that leaks like a sieve and allows contaminants to seep in from sewers and other substances under the ground. It is not on. I appeal to the Minister not to give me a speech written by Irish Water or by an official in his Department. I urge him to re-examine this and to go back to the drawing board. We cannot have another monstrosity like the children's hospital and Irish Water.

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