Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We have had unprecedented weather conditions over the past week. Alerts that were sent out in the media by the National Emergency Co-ordination Group have certainly saved lives. Services, including the Garda Síochána, ambulance crews, the fire brigade, local authority staff, hospital staff, the Army and so many more, all did their best and deserve great praise in dealing with emergencies as they arose.

Volunteers and citizens came to the assistance of the old, the young and the vulnerable in any way they could. Myself and Sinn Féin volunteers across Dublin North-West were out helping our communities, especially the elderly, in whatever way we could. Homeless outreach workers and volunteers also worked tirelessly helping people to find accommodation and delivering supplies and meals.

The Minister can appreciate that even under normal conditions life on the street is tough for the homeless but in extreme weather conditions, it is horrendous. That is why in times like this they need all the help they can get. Therefore, I was shocked to learn that the Capuchin Day Centre in Bow Street had no water and was unable to provide showers for the homeless or give a cup of tea, or even a cup of hot soup. Are the homeless not punished enough? Surely such organisations should have an emergency supply of water.

The Irish Water statement suggesting that there would be reductions in water pressure in Dublin for a set period, was misleading because some areas, in fact, had no water supplies and were cut off. This constant shortage of water, whether through burst pipes or hot weather, needs to be addressed.

For over ten years when I was a councillor, we heard about plans to pipe water up to Dublin via the midlands from the Shannon. The next crisis will be hot weather. We have had this extreme weather and now we will face the next crisis with hot weather.

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