John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I assure Deputy Alan Farrell that Irish Water is prepared to use section 56 of the 2007 legislation. It has the capability under law to act when it finds treated water is at an unacceptably low level.

The Deputy's overall point is absolutely correct. The national development plan puts aside €8.5 billion to improve the public drinking water and wastewater systems over the next ten years. We have had gross underinvestment for an awfully long time. There is so little headroom considering the volumes of water produced and consumed daily. This will be a strategic problem for the country in the future. Irish Water and the Government, through its funding and the development plan, are committed to addressing it.

The substantial point is that we should be encouraging everybody, not just Irish Water but also members of the Government and Members of the Houses, to promote the appropriate use of a scarce resource at a time when the forecast is for dry weather for the foreseeable future. The Deputy spoke about the possibility of a long, dry summer. The prevalence of extreme weather conditions presents unique problems for the country's water infrastructure. It behoves all authorities of the State, in addition to citizens, to recognise that their use of water will have a direct impact on their neighbours and communities if they do not act responsibly. Most people recognise that in times of scarcity, such as this, it is up to them to be responsible in their use of water.

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