Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Going back to Clonmel again, this is a situation with water. We are in a very perilous situation as I said earlier, with outages on a daily or definitely on a weekly basis. Businesses have no certainty and nor do householders. We have a lovely supply in Poulavanogue in rural Clonmel, with rivers supplying from the mountain. Irish Water is hellbent on disconnecting and decommissioning that reservoir. It will not listen to its caretakers. I salute Eugene Dargan and his colleagues and indeed the plumbers who are contracted to make the water repairs. The county council has a role, as do some private contractors. We have a huge problem. Glenary is a wonderful supply but we also have Poulavanogue which supplies the centre of the town. Irish Water will not listen to anyone. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, told me here that he has written to Irish Water. It will not listen to public representatives or business people; it will not talk or engage. The Irish Water people do not know about the system and they cause more interference in the system when they go at it, rather than fixing it. They will not listen to the people who have the knowledge - the council staff, some retired and some existing - who know the situation. We need this resolved. We need Irish Water to listen to the people.

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