Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Tá Uisce Éireann ag déanamh faillí ar mhuintir Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh. Tá bac ar thithíocht sa sráidbhaile toisc nach bhfuil aon chóras séarachais ag oibriú ann. Tá truailliú leanúnach in Abha Bhun Sílinn agus sa Laoi in ainneoin gur ciontaíodh an t-údarás uisce as an truailliú sin. Bhí an chomhairle contae ag forbairt pleananna ach níl aon rud déanta ag Uisce Éireann le breis agus deich mbliana anuas. Nuair a bhíonn an tuile ann, tagann an séarachas amach chuig an pháirc CLG agus bíonn ar an gclub é a ghlanadh mar ní fiú feitheamh le hUisce Éireann. Ní bheidh sé ag teacht. Tá na húdaráis éagsúla, an Ghníomhaireacht um Chaomhnú Comhshaoil, EPA, ina measc, ag iniúchadh an truaillithe seo. Tá Uisce Éireann ag cur gach rud ar an méar fhada i gcomhair mhuintir Bhéal Átha an Ghaorthaidh agus ba cheart dó dúisigh suas agus freastal ar phobal na Gaeltachta.

Irish Water has not used the last ten years to advance Ballingarry, from what the Minister of State has outlined to us. The other schemes in that western bundle are now open and operational, yet what is being described from Irish Water is pretty much at stage 1. I note it also refers to “recent” queries from people. There have been ongoing queries and representations from people for many years. This is just more of Irish Water's “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil”. It is time for it to wake up and serve the people of Ballingarry.

How many other treatment plants would have a water pollution conviction against the water authority? How many other situations like that would be allowed to persist, year after year, and then, Irish Water gives us a plan, if we can call it that, suggesting that somewhere off in never-never land, it will take action. Surely a conviction in the court carries some weight. Is it not time for Irish Water to step up to the plate?

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