Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Last night we got word that the water supply for Drogheda-east Meath had once again been disrupted with a significant burst main, one which had burst about a year ago. The concerns and worries that the people of the area had were communicated and Irish Water and the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government were very much aware of what needed to happen. Instead of having a tale of woe here today we have had good responses from Irish Water. It had failed miserably this time last year, the first time the main burst. It took it two or three days to get into action.

Its crisis management team was mobilised immediately, the Minister's office was fully aware of all actions and when I went out this morning at 7 a.m. there were approximately ten or 15 workers on site. There were large lorries and the earth had been dug out overnight. I understand that they worked under floodlights and that workers from Meath County Council, Louth County Council and Irish Water proved that they had 100% commitment to public service. I welcome the work done.

The crisis management team has worked because there is one in place. Communications with the public and public representatives are excellent. That is a huge improvement. It is what we need and what the public is entitled to.

I thank the Minister for attending to take this matter. I appreciate he has been very concerned, both last year and this year, about the significance of the problems that could arise as a result of a burst water main such as that one that occurred previously. Lessons have been learned from last year and what new lesson must we now learn? The first is that we will have a €12 million investment in improving the water supply for the Louth-East Meath area. I welcome that new pipes have been ordered to ensure we have a completely new fresh physical supply system in place and that those pipes are currently in Dublin Port. The part that needed to be replaced was available and on-site, and is ready to go. That is hugely positive. Can the Minister give me an assurance that the position is now 100% as best it can be, that the pipe has been fixed and the supply will return to normal? I await the Minister's reply and then I will comment further.

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for giving me this opportunity to update the House on the burst which occurred late yesterday evening on a pipeline from the Staleen water treatment plant which serves Drogheda and east Meath. The burst is close to the same location as the burst that happened last year.

Staff from Irish Water, the local authority and contractors have been mobilised. Repair crews have been on-site throughout the night working under lights in tough conditions, as referred to by the Deputy, going down to around 4 m in depth. As a result, a new pipe section has been installed and couplings fitted. Irish Water started to restore pressure in the repaired pipeline late this morning and we will soon know if the repair has been successful. I can update the House that it has been.

As a result of the pipe burst, Staleen water treatment plant has been working at around 40% capacity. The treated water reservoir serving Drogheda and most of east Meath has enough water to maintain a water supply to customers for the present. However, a water outage is impacting on some east Meath customers, including in the areas of Ratoath, Kilbride and Duleek, and it may through the evening and perhaps into the early morning as well.

Irish Water has implemented contingency arrangements as a result of this burst during the emergency works. For example, alternative water supplies, including nine tankers, bulk containers and bottled water, were mobilised. These are currently located in Ratoath and Kilbride and will be in place in Duleek shortly if they are not already.

Vulnerable customers have been contacted by Irish Water and it is working with them, arranging alternative water supplies as required. Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital has been prioritised, as have schools, créches and nursing homes. In addition, I understand the organisers of a number of important events which are due to be held in the area were contacted by Irish Water in order that it could do everything it could to cater for them in the event that the fix was not successful. Irish Water asked people to conserve water until the restoration of a normal water supply could be confirmed. It mobilised its crisis management team with full contingency measures put in place to respond to whatever circumstances arose.

I visited Irish Water's control centre this morning and I was confident then, as I am now, that the problem was being dealt with cohesively and comprehensively and with the utmost seriousness. Irish Water has learned from the previous incident at this location last year. Specialist equipment is readily available and was utilised in the repair work. We hope to see a normal service being restored very quickly to all parts of the area that were affected last night and earlier today.

Irish Water has approved the budget and design for a new pipeline to replace the existing lines. The new pipeline has been procured and Irish Water is in the final stages of resolving all the contractual and regulatory issues. Construction of this pipeline is expected to commence within weeks, with the aim of completing the project by the end of the year.

I confirm the update I received as I was coming into the House. As of 6 p.m. the Staleen plant is up to full production once again. There is full pressure in the pipe and there are no reported issues. The situation will be monitored overnight by Irish Water and it will keep in close contact with myself and my officials. There are still a few areas in Meath that may have reduced pressure or no supply currently but this will come back as the network replenishes itself overnight.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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If I may, I would like to respond.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Yes.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister's statement that things are back to normal. Thanks be to God for that. However, unfortunately, as we both know, there is nothing normal about this pipe and that is the reason it is being fully replaced. What issues, if any, must now be addressed by Irish Water? While I acknowledge the tremendous work that has been done, the contract is for an 18-month period. It was signed last September. Is there any way in which the rest of the process can be accelerated? In other words, rather than wait until the end of the year, can we shorten that timeline and make sure when the new pipes are installed there will be a seamless and continuous water supply for many years to come?

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for his question. It is one I explored with officials earlier this morning as to whether we could accelerate some of the delivery of this pipeline. The Deputy and I both know the site very well. We know the type of pipe we are talking about. It is a very old asbestos concrete pipe which is particularly weak at the point of the bottom of the hill because of the severe pressure that is placed on it. Therefore, it has been prone to break, as we have seen. That repair fit has happened but, obviously, the long-term solution is to replace the whole pipeline.

Regarding the particular project that is being undertaken by the Irish Water, the pipe has been delivered and we have it for installation. A contract is in place with someone to install it. The design is done for the section that needs to be replaced. Agreement has been almost reached with every landowner. There is just one final piece to be resolved but I am assured it will be resolved very quickly. There is an application for consent that is needed in regard to some of the archaeological sites that are there. This is for the whole piece of pipe that is to be replaced. We are still on time to start that work in a matter of weeks and to have all of the pipeline replaced by the end of the year. I have asked officials if they can look at that particular section of the pipe at the bottom of the hill where the pressure is and try to expedite that piece of work. There could be another break - let us be honest about it.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Yes.

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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It is an old pipe. We will try to accelerate that piece of the work and they are looking at that at the moment.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for that.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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We will wait for the Minister who is taking the next matter. Perhaps the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, is taking Deputy Mick Barry's Topical Issue matter.

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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No.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The Topical Issue debate was due to start at 8 p.m. and I was late because it was began sooner.

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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This business was brought forward because previous business finished sooner than expected.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Barry's issue concerns a proposed incinerator in Ringaskiddy.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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All the Minister needs to know is that it is bad.

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I live less than an kilometre from an incinerator and it is bigger than any I have ever seen.