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

I thank the Minister of State for the reply and the various details supplied. She indicated that crews are out working to facilitate the lifting of the boil water notice. It would be very reasonable for people locally to know what it is the crews are doing. What is Irish Water doing? What action is being taken? What did Irish Water do have the original boil water notice lifted on 25 September? Surely it should be able to provide some indication of what action, if any, it took in that regard.

People do not have faith in what is happening. Again and again they have been put on boil water notices and told little or nothing else. They are told to boil water, buy water and stay out of Irish Water’s way. That is not good enough. People need to know they can depend on the quality of the water supplied. They also need to know from the supplier what action is going to be taken and what is the long-term plan. Those are very reasonable expectations. It has been so frustrating for locals in Canovee, Carrigadrohid and Macroom town and its hinterland. They are enduring the necessity of boiling and buying water. They do not know how long they will need to do so. Previous boil water notices have been in place for two to three months. They have always been in place in winter. We have been subject to one since August and it is possible that we will face more in the winter ahead. That is not fair to locals. Irish Water needs to be upfront and tell people what it is it is doing, how it is going to solve this problem in the long term and how it will bring about that solution as quickly as possible. The ongoing situation is just not good enough. People in Macroom, Carrigadrohid and Canovee deserve better from Irish Water.

See this speech in context