Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Earlier on, the Minister spoke about the need to develop our rural towns and villages as it is a critically important part of our country's development. I am really beginning to question the capacity of Irish Water to play its part in that. The people of Gort in south Galway have been without a drinking water supply since 2 February when Irish Water issued a boil water notice to almost 3,000 customers there. Almost five months later, that supply has not been restored. Despite my best efforts at engaging with Irish Water, nothing of any great certainty has been given to me about when the service might be restored. Will the Minister engage with the CEO of Irish Water to determine the definitive timeline for when the supply of drinking water to the town is restored and that there is ongoing communication and engagement with the people in that town to keep them abreast of what is happening? I have seen nothing but a deep disrespect for the people of that town in terms of how Irish Water has engaged with them and this long-running saga of almost five months must be brought to a close.

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