John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join my colleagues in thanking Irish Water, particularly the managing director and his team, for the sterling work they have done during the weather event over the past week, and particularly the works that were contracted out to the local authorities, which were working 24 hours a day.

It is worth noting also that while all the good and positive news was being announced via the strategic communications unit with the Taoiseach flanked by Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána personnel, the bad news was delivered by Mr. Gerry Grant, who had to stand by himself and cut a very lonely figure talking about water restrictions.

This issue is becoming a nightmare for some people, who have been in contact with all of us. My constituents in Dublin South-West had been warned of restrictions but they had not been warned that the water would be cut off. This has happened in a number of areas in my constituency.

As the Minister will be aware, close to 1.5 million people in Dublin are affected by the restrictions that are running from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. I welcome the change, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., because it facilitates families and working people who are returning in the evening.

The position is particularly fraught in relation to schools and businesses which do not have running water, particularly cafés and shops. People are manically checking taps during the day. It is affecting mothers with babies, families with special needs and particularly older people. The mountains region in my constituency, including Bohernabreena and Glenasmole, was particularly affected over the weekend during the weather event.

Irish Water needs to improve its communications. We need to know how long the restrictions will last, when a restriction means a cut-off, what the issue is with the algae and Vartry, and what immediate actions are being taken by Irish Water to remedy the situation.

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