Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Second, the treatment plant is not up to capacity to reach Drogheda's projected population increase. During a tour of the Staleen water treatment plant in August 2018, I asked the representatives at the plant whether the plant would be able to deliver increased volumes of treated water to Drogheda and south Louth. I was told repeatedly by Irish Water representatives at that meeting that it would not be able to deliver the volumes of treated water required to meet Drogheda's projected growth. The growth is happening now and we are still none the wiser. We need information in order to plan for the future development of Drogheda. We need facts and figures as to how the Staleen water treatment plant will supply the planned new homes in Drogheda and south Louth under the northern environs plan, which is expected to deliver 5,000 new homes. If the numbers do not add up, both Irish Water and the Government will have to pay attention and come up with funding to increase capacity at Staleen or look at reopening the Rose Hall water treatment plant, which, I am informed, could serve between 40% and 80% of the north side of Drogheda but was decommissioned in 2017.

We do not need spin about Irish Water being confident about delivery. We need up-to-date information, facts and figures in cubic metres and, most importantly, a service that is fit for purpose.

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