Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this most important issue. We have no records that Coleridge's ancient mariner ever made it as far as Ennis, but the refrain, "Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink", certainly gets one thinking.

Some 30,000 people are dependent on the Ennis water supply, which services Ennis, Clarecastle, Barefield, Crusheen, Doora, Drumcliff and Spancilhill. Since July 2005, these 30,000 people have had to deal with boil notice after boil notice on their water supply due to the presence of cryptosporidium. The spring at Drumcliff from which the Ennis water supply is drawn remains volatile, due to its limestone karstic base, and is considered highly susceptible to cryptosporidium.

Almost three years ago, in July 2005, the first reported outbreak of cryptosporidium in the Ennis water supply came about, yet it took a full 13 months before an interim treatment plant was commissioned to filter the water. Ennis has also fared quiet poorly in comparison to Galway.

In Galway, a water voucher scheme was established within weeks of the first outbreak of cryptosporidium and rate payers also received a rate rebate. None of these measures was introduced in Ennis and residents and business people alike are very angry as a result.

Since the provision of the temporary water filtration plant, five or six full boil notices have been placed on the Ennis water supply. Since July 2005, the HSE, together with the local authority, has placed a partial boil notice on the water, which advises water be boiled before consumption by the immuno-compromised, infants and pre-school children.

Given these circumstances, confidence in the Ennis water supply is at a very low level. Last Sunday, that confidence was almost sunk when residents were informed that they should conserve water, as the quantity of treated water passing through the interim treatment plant was not sufficient to meet demands because of heavy rainfall. I understand that following consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency and the HSE, Clare County Council later decided to partially bypass the filtration system with a view to increasing the quantity of water that could be dispatched to consumers.

This move was designed to replenish the storage levels in reservoirs, restore supply to all consumers and ensure that critical areas such as the fire service and hospitals such as Ennis General and St. Joseph's hospital had an adequate volume of water. To think that a town's water supply was put out of action because of heavy rainfall is both ironic and tragic.

This latest problem with the Ennis water supply highlights the fact that we now urgently need an alternative water supply not just to address the water quality issue, but also the water quantity issue. This evening, I propose a solution to the daily problems which residents encounter, such as having to boil or buy water to brush teeth, wash vegetables or simply drink a clean fresh glass of water. Significant water pressure problems also exist throughout parts of Ennis, Clarecastle and Doora, which prevent people from washing and taking showers when they want.

I ask the Minister of State to fast-track the delivery of the Ennis water augmentation scheme. This scheme will provide Ennis with a new water supply which will be a plan B. It will be a source of water free of cryptosporidium and which will address our water quantity issues.

The scheme up to now has been looked upon as a long-term project. It is clear Ennis needs access to an alternative water supply as soon as possible. I ask the Minister and Department to engage directly with the local authorities in Ennis to drive the speedy delivery of this vital scheme.

The outstanding elements of the Ennis water augmentation scheme consist of the following elements. A new pumping station a Clareabbey must be built, a new reservoir at Edenvale must be constructed and extraction capacity at Castle Lake must be increased. The remaining piping work, which has been laid along the Newmarket-on-Fergus bypass and new Ennis bypass, must be completed.

As an immediate action, I am asking that a simple pump and less than a kilometre of piping be provided from Carnelly to Kerins Cross in Clarecastle, as this work would access the Castle Lake water supply and provide a solution to the water shortages in Clarecastle and Doora, taking pressure off the Ennis town supply. I have proposed this measure several times in the past in the chamber of Clare County Council; it makes common sense and must happen as soon as possible.

I am appealing to the Minister on behalf of the 30,000 people who are dependent on the Ennis water supply. I am looking for a commitment that the Minister will ensure that the Ennis water augmentation scheme is prioritised. This scheme will solve the daily intolerable problems relating to our water.

I ask the Minister to take a hands-on approach to this issue because if he does not, our problems will only worsen. Water is a basic right and we live in a First World economy. The people of Ennis, Clarecastle, Barefield, Doora and Crusheen are depending on the Minister to provide that basic right of clean fresh drinking water with proper pressure and service.

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

Since its adoption in 2002, the objectives of the national spatial strategy have been among the key criteria local authorities have taken into consideration in their needs assessments for new water services infrastructure. It will be no surprise, therefore, that the current water services investment programme, announced by the Minister last September, allows for investment of some €2.6 billion in the hubs and gateways over the next few years. The programme is available in the Oireachtas Library.

The range of new water and sewerage schemes planned and in progress in the hubs and gateways provides strong evidence of the Government's determination to safeguard the environment in these areas while making provision for new housing, new jobs and all the other requirements of a successful hub or gateway location.

In the period since 2000, over 400 water services infrastructure schemes have been completed by the Department, many in hubs and gateways. The completion of major wastewater infrastructure projects in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway are cases in point. In the hub town of Ennis, the Department is providing substantial funding towards new long-term water services infrastructure which will serve the objectives of the national spatial strategy and benefit the residential and business communities in the town.

Three major water supply scheme projects are included in the Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 to 2009. A new water treatment plant is being constructed as part of the Ennis town water supply treatment scheme. I understand the council signed the €8.3 million contract in July 2007 and work will be finished in February 2009. The Ennis town water supply augmentation scheme, which will supplement the Ennis supply with water from Castlelake, is in the programme at an estimated cost of €6.3 million. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government approved Clare County Council's proposals to lay the pipework for the scheme in conjunction with the Ennis Road bypass and completion of these works is a matter for the council.

The water services investment programme also contains the €21 million Castlelake water supply scheme, which will improve the Castlelake source to cater for future needs. I understand the Department is awaiting a brief from Clare County Council for the appointment of consultants to draw up the preliminary report for the scheme. Also included in the programme is the Ennis-Clarecastle sewerage scheme which will cost in the region of €58 million.

The Minister is aware that there have been problems with the town's present water supply for some time and there is a continuing precautionary boil water regime in place for certain groups, such as the elderly, the very young and people who are immuno-compromised. This is not what should be expected in this day and age. However, I understand the council has tried to minimise the problems by installing a temporary water treatment plant while the new permanent €8.3 million treatment works is constructed. The Minister provided special local government fund assistance towards the running costs of this temporary plant in 2006 and 2007 and will soon announce the 2008 round of allocations.

I understand the temporary plant has been unable to meet demand in recent days. Clearly, it would be much better if this situation had not come about. However, a temporary plant is just that and cannot be expected to perform as well as the new permanent treatment facility which will come on stream next year. The Minister shares what must be the view of everyone in the town that progress with the new plant must be kept on track in terms of time and I understand Clare County Council is doing everything possible to ensure it is completed on time. In the meantime, it is a matter for the council, as the statutory water services authority, to take whatever steps are needed to ensure the requirements of all consumers in the town are accommodated to the greatest extent possible.