Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

They say that they always save the best for last, so we will see. I have raised this issue in the Chamber numerous times. It is the boil water notices in east Cork, specifically in Whitegate. I want to give the Minister of State a synopsis of what is going on. It started on 14 February 2016, so we are coming up to the seventh anniversary of these boil water notices. The following is a synopsis of press headlines on this over the years and in recent months and weeks.

One headline states "East Cork residents face years more of drinking water quality issues". The article continues, "Residents in East Cork who have been forced to buy bottled water for over a year face another three years of water quality issues despite efforts to fast-track a solution." Another headline states "Councillors demand action as parts of East Cork face more boil water notices for years". The article continues, "Councillors will also demand compensation for an estimated 10,000 [ we will call them] customers who are having to buy bottled water on a near daily basis." Sinn Féin's Councillor Danielle Twomey claimed that councillors are left in the dark about the issues. She said:

They're stonewalling us. It's so disrespectful to us. They only engage with us when they want planning permission.

Another headline states "The Cork villages that 'just don't trust the tap water anymore'". The article continues, "Locals are frustrated that heavy rains invariably mean boil notices, buying drums of water, and taking extra care when bathing children." Another headline states "Cork households affected by lengthy boil water notices 'should be compensated'". The article continues:

Unanimous support in county council for those who have suffered long-term inconvenience and agreement that they must get an alternative supply and tax credits. Hundreds of householders throughout Co. Cork should get some form of compensation for being hit with repeated and lengthy boil water notices. Cork county councillors want Irish Water to either provide an alternative supply and/or the government to provide additional tax credits to those who suffer such long-term inconvenience.

Another headline states "Boil Water Notice for Killavullen Public Water Supply Remains in Place". Another headline states "Irish Water boil water notice reminders for Macroom and Whitegate".

That is just a little synopsis; I could have a very large file of them compiled over the course of seven years and the boil water notices come every three to four months. I am constantly listening to people talk of their frustration and I know where they are coming from. While Whitegate is on the main road to the refinery, the surrounding areas are extremely rural, from upper and lower Aghada, Rostellan back into Cloyne and possibly back into Ballinacurra and Midleton. Even at the far side, in Leamlara, we had a boil water notice a while back.

I mention the additional cost. We are in a cost-of-living crisis and the price of everything has gone up. Energy costs for boiling water have gone up, as have the price of petrol and diesel, and frustration is borne out of these notices. I listened to a radio interview today on Cork's 96FM and the lady who spoke said it is bad enough with everything that is going on and having to truck in and out with bottles of water but that there has been zero communication from Irish Water, only press releases. She suggested they could even put in additional recycling bays for all the plastic bottles and containers they have and that this would be some form of recognition that Irish Water was listening to them. The Minister of State has listened to the testimony from my colleague, Councillor Twomey, saying they are stonewalled. I found it difficult as well when I tried to engage with Irish Water. It has improved slightly on sewerage, but when it comes to water it still seems to be the same press release coming out with no clarity being provided to people. There are businesses in all those towns and villages that have additional costs. This is an additional cost again and no clarity is provided. I will come back to the Minister of State to give her a rundown on this after her reply as I will be able to answer when she replies.

See this speech in context