John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I raise this issue not just because of the importance of the water supply to Clogh and Moneenroe in County Kilkenny but also because of the many decades that have passed since this problem first arose. I fully appreciate that there is a manganese issue with the water supply and that works to upgrade the system are ongoing. However, this issue dates back decades. The county council at the time, when it was responsible for the provision of water services, knew about this. Efforts were made with the Department at that time. Following my election in 1997, I continued to raise this issue time and again. Following a recent inquiry dated 12 February, a person from Irish Water informed me that I was told the same thing last August. An immediate plan is needed.

Boil water notices are regularly issued to the communities of Clogh and Moneenroe. They are fed up and sick to the teeth of what they are experiencing. They turn on the water, flush the loo or have a shower and they never know when the water will turn to brown treacle-like liquid. It is absolutely disgusting and it is wrong in this day and age that people are expected to just suck it up and are being told the issue is being dealt with and Irish Water will get back to them.

I ask that the Department insist on Irish Water fast-tracking the short-term solution it seems to have and then move quickly to the long-term solution. Irish Water has told me that the short-term solution will take possibly four years and the medium-term solution will take between five and seven years. Is it not time Irish Water looked at whatever technology is available today, increased funding for the provision of proper, drinkable water to Clogh and Moneenroe and front-loaded the investment to get the job done? This has gone on for far too long and the people in the area are upset, although they tolerate this to a degree.

I cannot understand, however, how Irish Water can continue to introduce boil water notices and not deal quickly with the problems it has. A new source is needed and has been identified. It is not acceptable for the planning stages to go on for so long in terms of the immediate problem and the medium-term solution Irish Water has. I ask the Minister of State to get Irish Water to apply itself to this issue and examine it in detail. It has been looking at the issue for many years. Why is the problem still going on? Why does Irish Water not take immediate action to deal with the problem? Surely this issue is not unique to Clogh and Moneenroe. Surely this type of problem has arisen with water supplies elsewhere and Irish Water can learn from that. If a new water source is needed, it should have been provided years ago.

I get letters from people on this issue. Bottles of the water have been sent to my office. I know what the water looks like. I have been in houses where I have seen it. A person cannot drink it. There are particles in the water. I know Irish Water flushes out the system from time to time, which can also cause a problem. It is not good enough in this day and age, with so much money being invested by Irish Water, that this local community has been left on the long finger. Enough is enough. I am asking the Minister of State to bring forward a longer-term solution in order that this community can, at least, be assured it will have a continuation of quality water supply.

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