Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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I wish to raise the issue of the decline in water quality at Bellvelly on the great island of Cobh. I was contacted by residents of the area who told me that on Monday last Irish Water lifted a "Do not use" notice. The company stated that customers could resume normal usage of the water for drinking, food preparation, brushing teeth and other domestic use. The notice was lifted following consultation with the HSE and the receipt of satisfactory monitoring results indicating the new water supply was safe to drink. Councillor Cathal Rasmussen and I met the residents last Monday evening after the Irish Water notice was lifted and we were given recent samples of the water. If I could bring one of the samples to the House, I would do so. I am not a scientist, but it was clear that the water was not suitable for human consumption or other domestic use. It was very discoloured.

It is normal practice for Members to try to work through any issues in respect of water supply or sanitary issues in our constituencies with Irish Water, but we have been going around the houses on this issue for some time and I felt compelled to raise it in the House. Several affected families want a solution to this problem which has been going on for 20 years. They want the restoration of a safe supply of potable water that can be used for showering and other everyday domestic use. They want a water supply similar to that enjoyed by the rest of the country. That is their right.

Irish Water should not have lifted the "Do not use" notice on Monday because it is very clear that the water is of insufficient quality and something has gone wrong in the system. The residents will not use the water and they have no confidence in Irish Water.

They can present evidence of the fact that the water is still very discoloured, notwithstanding the flushing of the network. The Minister of State will tell the House that this has been done and that a pH correction has already been inputted into the water system. I can tell him now that the water quality is not what it should be. The "do not use" notice should not have been issued. We want a response from the Minister of State that states clearly that there will be capital investment to ensure the residents of Belvelly have an adequate and proper water supply.

John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Sherlock for raising this issue. I am taking it on behalf of my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy. I am pleased to have an opportunity to outline the policy and legislative arrangements that are in place for the development and delivery of water services. I understand that the "do not use" notice in respect of water services at Belvelly was removed in recent days and that Irish Water and Cork County Council have notified consumers on the affected section of the network that normal water services have been restored. This follows the implementation of remedial measures to deal with the standard level of iron in the supply having been exceeded, as well as the confirmation by the HSE of satisfactory monitoring results. This means everyone can resume normal use of the water supply. I acknowledge the patience, co-operation and assistance of the public since the "do not use" notice was put in place on 16 August last. I realise how stressful and distressing service curtailments can be. Any inconvenience caused to householders and the business community at Belvelly is greatly regretted.

Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has had statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Irish Water as a single national utility is taking a strategic nationwide approach to asset planning and investment and meeting customer requirements. In October 2015, a water services strategic plan was prepared by Irish Water and obtained ministerial approval. The plan sets out a high-level 25-year strategy to ensure the provision of clean and safe drinking water, effective management of wastewater, environmental protection and support for economic and social development. The first water services policy statement to be prepared in line with the Water Services Acts was published, following approval by the Government, on 21 May 2018. The statement, which outlines a clear direction for strategic planning and decision-making on water and wastewater services, identifies key policy objectives and priorities for the delivery of water and wastewater services over the period to 2025. It sets out a series of high-level policy objectives across the three thematic areas of quality, conservation and future-proofing which must be pursued when capital investment is being planned and current spending plans are being framed. The policy statement will provide the context within which necessary funding and investment plans by Irish Water will be framed and agreed.

Last week, on foot of the water services policy statement, the Minister approved Irish Water's strategic funding plan, which sets out the costs of providing domestic and non-domestic water and wastewater services and the recovery of those costs. The strategic funding plan will feed into the allowed revenue determination for Irish Water by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, as the economic regulator of Irish Water, and will ultimately feed into future annual Estimates and budgetary processes. Irish Water's next investment plan, for the period from 2020 to 2024, will set out the financial plan for capital investment to support its strategic objectives, as set out in the water services strategic plan and the strategic funding plan, to deliver improvements to water services throughout Ireland where they are needed most. Irish Water will also take account of developing subsidiary programmes within its investment plan, such as those aimed at addressing the needs of smaller communities, to assist in implementing the national planning framework and the national development plan. Irish Water will work with each local authority to develop such programmes further for inclusion in future funding requirements.

Water services are essential to the daily lives of our citizens and to the economy. We need to ensure the best and most appropriate arrangements possible are in place for the delivery of these vital services. A substantial proportion of investment by the State through Irish Water over the next ten years will focus on programmes to improve compliance with relevant public health and environmental standards. Deputy Sherlock was pre-empting my reply when he mentioned the flushing of the network, which is not referred to in the document provided to me. I note his comments about the visual quality of the water. I will make contact with Irish Water on the lifting of the "do not use" notice. The HSE's monitoring showed that satisfactory results have been obtained. While I have no reason to doubt the HSE or the Department when they say that the requisite standards have been met, I can recheck the reply. I would also like to refer to the funding of Irish Water measures across the country. Since the establishment of Irish Water, Ministers have not been able to make a direct input into decisions on the funding of projects. It is a matter for Irish Water to make such decisions.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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I appreciate the Minister of State's reply. He has given me some comfort with his assurance that he will raise the issue with Irish Water. That is to be welcomed. Although I am not a scientist, I have seen the water samples that were presented on Monday at approximately 8.30 p.m. The "do not use" notice had been lifted some time on Monday morning or afternoon. The residents of Belvelly have no confidence in the water supply. We want Irish Water to be called to account for the lifting of the "do not use" notice. There are serious public safety and public health issues for the residents. They are being told by Irish Water that they can drink the water now, but they see clear discolouration when they look at the water. There are children, babies, older people and people with compromised health living in the community. People want to have confidence that their water supply is as it should be. We want to see an evidence base or benchmark for the quality assurance used by Irish Water. We do not know how, or against what benchmark, Irish Water is measuring what qualifies as or what constitutes good or bad water. The point I would make about the flushing of the pipes is that the water supply infrastructure is very old and Dickensian. It needs capital investment. In light of the number of people living in the Belvelly area - I have been told that up to 175 houses are affected - I am asking for a solution to be found. If we can find €500 million for a rainy day fund, I am sure we can divest a fraction of that amount to start fixing problems like this. Notwithstanding the Minister of State's comments, there is a wider issue with how Irish Water sometimes communicates with Members of the Oireachtas. The relationship is very positive at local level, but further up the food chain the level of engagement with Members tends to diminish from time to time.

John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I reiterate that my contacts with Irish Water on constituency matters have always been positive.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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So have mine, to be honest.

John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The primary function of Irish Water is to provide clean and safe drinking water to consumers and to treat wastewater in a safe and environmentally correct manner. This is not a question of resources. Irish Water's capital investment plans from 2014 to 2021 have identified that €5.5 billion is necessary for the upgrading of the system. The level of funding available to allow necessary works to be done has increased significantly in the last couple of years. I do not agree with the Deputy's categorisation of flushing as "old and Dickensian".

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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No, I said that the pipes are Dickensian.

John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Okay. I misunderstood. I will endeavour to get a response from Irish Water in the context of the safety issue. It is important to point out that in this case, Cork County Council, the HSE and Irish Water lifted the notice together. I have no reason to doubt them.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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They did not take samples from the taps in people's houses.

John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I will endeavour to get the logic and the reasoning behind the decision to lift the notice. I do not think it was done lightly. Water quality is an important issue. We should ensure the highest standards apply. I reiterate that the Water Services Acts 2007 to 2017 give specific roles to Irish Water and to the Minister.

The Minister cannot directly interfere in the allocation of resources to specific schemes. Smaller schemes can be devised between Irish Water and the relevant local authorities. I know a little about the Cork Harbour area and Belvelly would fit into this. I will seek to get a direct response from Irish Water on the issues the Deputy has raised.