James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the reply and welcome the progress. I have been in touch with the Minister's office on this throughout and I welcome that those representations are beginning to bear fruit. I note the commitment that the Department will receive an initial assessment on the feasibility of an alternative groundwater source arising from tonight's debate and the representations in the next couple of weeks, as well as the fact the Department has instructed Irish Water to prioritise that request for the connection to the mains. I want to be positive and I want to welcome the progress that is being made. There is an urgency about it, naturally, given the type of issue it is. There was a situation where people had to buy bottled water for themselves in the shops and a tanker was occasionally being sent up, although perhaps not as frequently in recent days.

As an observation, at the outset of his reply, the Minister of State said it was a private supply and, effectively, was a private issue. I know he went on to explain that the State will intervene, which I acknowledge. However, it is only a private supply because of the lack of an alternative. If people could connect to the mains, they would have done so years ago, in particular if that had been an option when they were building their houses. Some have access to private water wells but many do not. Therefore, while it is a private group water scheme, it is only so because of necessity. I commend the community on organising itself in this manner and making these provisions for itself. It has stood them well for many years but, unfortunately, no longer.

In conclusion, I will keep in touch with the Minister and I look forward to those actions being taken. The long-term solution really is the connection to the mains supply, albeit it is a somewhat rural and isolated area. It has to be done and we have to find a way to do it. I recognise that the Department will now prioritise that through working with Irish Water. I also look forward to a progress update on the ground water supply. All of these things are necessary and important. As I said, we cannot allow 60 households in a rural community to just grin and bear it for any longer than is necessary. I thank the Minister of State and his office, and the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, with whom I have been working, for their inputs. I look forward to a swift resolution.

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