Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for giving me this opportunity to update the House on the burst which occurred late yesterday evening on a pipeline from the Staleen water treatment plant which serves Drogheda and east Meath. The burst is close to the same location as the burst that happened last year.

Staff from Irish Water, the local authority and contractors have been mobilised. Repair crews have been on-site throughout the night working under lights in tough conditions, as referred to by the Deputy, going down to around 4 m in depth. As a result, a new pipe section has been installed and couplings fitted. Irish Water started to restore pressure in the repaired pipeline late this morning and we will soon know if the repair has been successful. I can update the House that it has been.

As a result of the pipe burst, Staleen water treatment plant has been working at around 40% capacity. The treated water reservoir serving Drogheda and most of east Meath has enough water to maintain a water supply to customers for the present. However, a water outage is impacting on some east Meath customers, including in the areas of Ratoath, Kilbride and Duleek, and it may through the evening and perhaps into the early morning as well.

Irish Water has implemented contingency arrangements as a result of this burst during the emergency works. For example, alternative water supplies, including nine tankers, bulk containers and bottled water, were mobilised. These are currently located in Ratoath and Kilbride and will be in place in Duleek shortly if they are not already.

Vulnerable customers have been contacted by Irish Water and it is working with them, arranging alternative water supplies as required. Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital has been prioritised, as have schools, créches and nursing homes. In addition, I understand the organisers of a number of important events which are due to be held in the area were contacted by Irish Water in order that it could do everything it could to cater for them in the event that the fix was not successful. Irish Water asked people to conserve water until the restoration of a normal water supply could be confirmed. It mobilised its crisis management team with full contingency measures put in place to respond to whatever circumstances arose.

I visited Irish Water's control centre this morning and I was confident then, as I am now, that the problem was being dealt with cohesively and comprehensively and with the utmost seriousness. Irish Water has learned from the previous incident at this location last year. Specialist equipment is readily available and was utilised in the repair work. We hope to see a normal service being restored very quickly to all parts of the area that were affected last night and earlier today.

Irish Water has approved the budget and design for a new pipeline to replace the existing lines. The new pipeline has been procured and Irish Water is in the final stages of resolving all the contractual and regulatory issues. Construction of this pipeline is expected to commence within weeks, with the aim of completing the project by the end of the year.

I confirm the update I received as I was coming into the House. As of 6 p.m. the Staleen plant is up to full production once again. There is full pressure in the pipe and there are no reported issues. The situation will be monitored overnight by Irish Water and it will keep in close contact with myself and my officials. There are still a few areas in Meath that may have reduced pressure or no supply currently but this will come back as the network replenishes itself overnight.

See this speech in context