Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister of State for attending. This is the fourth time I have raised a Topical Issue matter on boil water notices in east Cork. Many Deputies are lucky to be able to raise four Topical Issue matters in one year.

I want to paint a picture by referring to recent newspaper headlines, including in theIrish Examiner: "Urgent boil water notice issued for Whitegate area of Cork after 'inadequate disinfection' at plant" is a headline from February 2020. The headline, "Numbers affected by long-term by boilwater notices double by year's end", appeared in May 2022, while the headline, "Thousands affected by new boil water notice", appeared in October 2022. These refer only to the Whitegate area in east Cork. Another piece - I believe it was in corkbeo.ie- was headlined "'It’s horrendous’: Cork villagers count the cost of creaky water system".

That was in October 2022 in Killavullen in north Cork. The areas I am talking about here are Aghada, Churchtown, Ballycotton, Saleen, Shanagarry, Ballinacurra and areas of Cloyne. It is nearly from Whitegate oil refinery all the way over towards Youghal. It is a very rural area.

Every time there has been a boil water notice in east Cork, I have been on to Irish Water. I remember one particular letter I received, which definitely came from an elderly person. It came in an envelope but the letter was written on the back of another envelope inside it. It is was pleading with me to get Irish Water to sort this out because it was costing them an awful lot of money. In Churchtown, which is a very rural area, there is a very large care home. It costs a lot of money to go to the shops to buy water. While others were speaking earlier, a woman has already been on to me to say that this will be her second Christmas having to boil water. I have asked Irish Water to put in tankers or at least have something. If it has a duty to supply proper drinking water and is responsible for the quality of water in the area, surely it can supply something that would not be at a cost to the people who use these services. The frustration there is very clear. A family were in touch with me with a young autistic child who cannot fathom how they are supposed to take a bottle of water into the bathroom in the morning when they go to brush their teeth. It is taking normality out of some families' lives.

I think this has been ongoing for nearly three years. Some 9,500 people - the bones of 10,000 people - are affected. Every time we go to Irish Water, we are told it is a question of turbidity in the water. It has had three to four years to build a higher wall around this plant. I know it is working on a plant but the worrying thing is that it does not seem to be forward planning for capacity issues. East Cork probably has the fasting growing population in the country. It is a disgrace that Irish Water is putting a treatment plant in White Bay. It is called White Bay for a reason; because it is a beautiful white beach. The treatment plant that it is putting there certainly will not meet future capacity and will not put clean water back into the bay. It is really frustrating.

I speak on behalf of the people I represent in east Cork. I will not use choice words but the Minister of State will know what I would like to say in here: they are very something-ed off about it. It is very frustrating for me as a public representative to have to come in here and make the case to a Minister of State because Irish Water will not engage. When it does, it is dismissive. The least it can do is to supply free drinking water to the nearly 10,000 residents in east Cork, and those in Killavullen in north Cork, so that they can have some bit of normality. Things are getting very expensive here and to have the added stress of going to draw water is just driving people mad.

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I am taking the question on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke. This is an issue of national and local importance. I appreciate the Deputy's concerns for communities affected by boil water notices. I can hear his frustration on behalf of his constituents.

The Deputy will appreciate that the operation of Whitegate regional public water supply is a matter for Irish Water. I know he has had engagements with it. 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. In turn, the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, as environmental regulator is responsible for setting quality standards and enforcing compliance with EU directives and national regulations for the provision of drinking water. I understand from inquiries made with Irish Water that the boil water notice currently in place for the Whitegate public water supply was issued on 29 October 2022 following consultation between Irish Water, Cork County Council and the HSE. This boil water notice was issued to protect approximately 9,500 customers in Whitegate, Aghada, Churchtown, Ballycotton, Saleen, Shanagarry, Ballinacurra and areas of Cloyne. The notice was issued as a result of increased turbidity in the raw water, which can happen at this source as it is susceptible to raw water quality issues after rainfall events. Boil water notices have been issued for the Whitegate public water supply on a number of occasions in recent years, as the Deputy mentioned.

In the short term, upgrade works to the filters are under way and additional parts are on order, with delivery expected by the end of December. Following the implementation of these measures, the HSE will be asked to confirm that the criteria for lifting the boil water notice are met. The delivery of a new water treatment plant, as the permanent solution to the issues at Whitegate, is under way. I know the Deputy is aware of that. Irish Water is in the process of preparing an application for planning permission and engagement with prospective contractors has commenced. It is envisaged that the planning application will be lodged in the first quarter of 2023. Subject to the planning permission being granted by July 2023, the construction contract will be signed in the fourth quarter of 2023 with construction mobilised in the first quarter of 2024. The construction work would be due for completion in the last quarter of 2025. The information and data that are necessary to demonstrate that the new plant meets all applicable standards will be submitted to the EPA for its consideration for removal of the plant from the remedial action list.

The priority of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is to ensure that people's health is protected and that adequate water is available for all consumers. We all want to see this notice lifted without undue delay, but only when the HSE and the EPA have confirmed the water supply is safe. Both our water and wastewater systems require substantial and sustained investment to bring the systems up to the quality and resilience standards required of a modem service, to provide for population growth and to build resilience in the face of climate change. As part of budget 2023, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, secured funding of over €1.65 billion to support water services. This includes €1.56 billion in respect of domestic water services provision by Irish Water. This overall investment will deliver significant improvements in our public water and wastewater services; support improved water supplies right across Ireland, including rural Ireland; and support a range of programmes aimed at delivering improved water quality in our rivers, lakes and marine area, thereby making a significant contribution to addressing Ireland's needs.

Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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The public water supply is a matter for Irish Water. If it will not work with us or facilitate people, who do we go to? That is the problem. The response mentioned 2025. We are in 2022 so that is another three years of people buying water, drawing water and enduring frustration. I appeal to Irish Water to get its finger out and start forward planning to help these people. It is extremely important.

I was amused by the mention of filters in the response. When I raised this before - I think it was in May - the problem of accessing these filters was mentioned. I said it then and I will say it again that they probably would have a better chance of getting these filters more quickly from wish.com. I get the same response every time I raise this matter during a Topical Issue debate. It feels like there is incompetence in Irish Water. I worked in construction. If you are a foreman, you have responsibilities, like in any job. Why is it so difficult to organise something properly or plan forward properly? The issue is here. If there is a chance of resolving it, it will not be before the end of 2025. I will probably be back here asking why Irish Water is not supplying clean drinking water to the 9,500 people on the Whitegate scheme and a couple of hundred people, or maybe more, on the Killavullen scheme. People in both areas have businesses, pubs and restaurants. It will be very hard for them to survive. It is a question of incompetence. They knew what was happening two or three years ago. Every time it rains in Ireland, we cannot drink our water. It does not make sense. When I was a young fellow, a long time ago, we used to draw a bucket of water from the barrel and use it for cooking and washing and it was never an issue. I appeal to Irish Water to sort it out. To have 9,500 people with no water for the next three years is absolutely ludicrous.

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I will stand corrected if I am wrong about this, but my understanding from the briefing I have been given is that the upgrade works to the filters is under way and additional parts are on order.

Delivery is expected by the end of December. Following the implementation of these measures, the HSE will be asked to confirm that the criteria for lifting the boil water notice are met. If that is the case, the date will not be 2025, but much sooner. It appears from my briefing note that it is the water treatment plant that will be fully constructed at the end of 2025, but the boil water notice should be lifted way before that, hopefully early next year if not at the end of December.

The Minister wants to acknowledge the patience and co-operation of affected residents and businesses in the Whitegate area and other areas. I note the Deputy said that when Irish Water engages with him, it is "dismissive". It is a matter that I will bring to the attention of the Minister because we want all agencies to co-operate and at least give information when needed, particularly when one is trying to represent constituents who have to pay for water. The Deputy mentioned an autistic child who has to get bottled water to brush their teeth. That is not ideal for any family. I appreciate the pressure the Deputy is under in representing his constituents and I will relay his comments to the Minister. I thank him for his contribution.