Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this important issue for discussion tonight and the Minister of State for being here. This is a familiar issue which is frustrating for residents and business owners in the area of Duleek, Donore and surrounding areas. The issue is creaking water infrastructure leading to water bursts all too frequently. They are unscheduled and in many cases are for many hours. It happened as recently as yesterday, the day before, ten days before that, and the day before that. It is a pattern like that. It has a real impact on businesses, hairdressers, shops, cafés, coffee shops, delicatessens, large industry, small and medium enterprises, medically-vulnerable households and kids. Parents were in contact with me about newborn twins on St. Patrick's Day. The burst caused a flood in individual residences, flooding the house and garage, and everything that goes with that.

I am sure some of the Minister of State's response will refer to the investment plan that exists. I acknowledge that. In the past, I have raised other issues in County Meath and they have successfully been progressed, for example, in Ashbourne and Ratoath. I know there are ongoing works for the improvement of the line between Duleek and Navan, for example. I know there is a commitment to improve the line between Stalleen and Windmill Hill reservoir, which the Minister of State will probably refer to. My concern is that it is at a very early stage. It is a large 18-km project and a major commitment to it is needed. The Government, the Department and Uisce Éireann need to look at the phasing of that. It is clear that what is happening at the minute is that the water infrastructure and the mains between Stalleen and Duleek are creaking. I have colleagues and friends who are forensically familiar with the network. They will say that whole pipe, in that whole field, has been completely replaced because there have been so many bursts and the bursts just keep moving up the pipe. A patch-up job is happening and every patch-up leads to another burst and so on. It is frustrating for businesses, households, residents and everybody concerned.

My specific ask on behalf of the community is that this project be identified as a priority, funded and fast-tracked for delivery. I am suggesting that this would involve phasing of it whereby this is not one single project which is 18 km long. There are proposals from Uisce Éireann. There is a way to phase this such that its delivery could be fast-tracked. I believe that is needed. I know there is a commitment from the Government in respect of the climate and infrastructure fund and the review of the national development plan. That is what is needed here.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy O'Rourke for raising the need to discuss the water supply issues in Duleek and Stalleen. I am taking this Topical Issue debate on behalf of the Minister for housing, Deputy James Browne, who is my colleague in the Department. I appreciate Deputy O'Rourke's concerns for the services and businesses affected. He has outlined it very well.

The Deputy will appreciate that the operation of the public water supply, together with operational issues locally, are matters for Uisce Éireann, which has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at the national, regional and local level. Under section 7 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013, neither I, as Minister of State, nor my Department has an operational function in the matter to which the Deputy refers. However, I have made specific inquiries and am informed that there have been a number of bursts on the Duleek to Staleen water main in recent weeks, as the Deputy noted. Uisce Éireann would like to assure customers that when an unplanned outage occurs, local water services crews are immediately dispatched to do repair work as soon as possible. Their focus is always on ensuring the water supply is returned to all customers as quickly as possible.

Uisce Éireann is currently reviewing the Staleen to Duleek water main following the water outages in recent weeks. The Deputy referred to the substantial body of work. Uisce Éireann is looking at this specific issue and it is something I specifically inquired about today. Uisce Éireann is developing several strategically important drinking water projects in this area and it is worth going through the details of those.

Uisce Éireann is progressing the Duleek to Navan trunk water main project, which is one of a number of strategically important projects under way to increase the security and resilience of drinking water supply across County Meath. This project represents an investment of €41 million to safeguard the water supply to homes and businesses in Navan. The provision of this new 16 km regional trunk water main and pumping station will create a strategic link between the Staleen water treatment plant, at a point just south of Duleek, and the Proudstown and Carn Hill reservoirs, which provide treated water storage for Navan.

Uisce Éireann is also progressing plans to replace and increase the capacity of the existing water pipeline from Staleen water treatment plant to Windmill Hill reservoir. This is another strategically important project to increase the security and resilience of drinking water supply across County Meath. The project team is currently engaging with landowners to determine the route selection.

Uisce Éireann has a communications protocol in place for all planned interruptions whereby customers are notified in advance, including a text alert system that customers can sign up to.

I have no doubt it has been difficult and distressing for homeowners, people who are renting and businesses due to the leaks between Staleen and Duleek. As I said, Uisce Éireann is currently reviewing the issue with the Staleen to Duleek water main following the outage in recent weeks and it is actively following up on this. I note the point the Deputy raises with regard to a phased approach and it is something I will bring back to the Minister and Uisce Éireann. The Deputy might follow up with direct correspondence to the Minister and we can then follow up with Uisce Éireann on that point. The more immediate issue of the outage in Duleek is being actively looked at by Uisce Éireann.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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The solution is the immediate prioritisation or fast-tracking of the Staleen water treatment plant to Windmill Hill reservoir project. I want to put a couple of points on the record. A public meeting is scheduled on this issue for tomorrow week, Thursday, at 8.30 p.m. in the Duleek-Bellewstown community centre. I would encourage representatives of Uisce Éireann and the Minister or Minister of State with responsibility to attend that. The meeting is organised by Senator Sharon Keogan and it will be important to have cross-party representation, with all of our local representatives there and working with the local community to speak with one voice on this project.

I would repeat the substantial point. While I acknowledge the points the Minister of State has made, the Staleen water treatment plant to Windmill Hill reservoir project is a major project that is some 18 km long. The Minister of State has outlined the current position, which is that it is still at the stage of consultation with landowners. This is a massive project and it will take a long time but the residents and businesses in this area cannot wait a long time. I am making the case that we look at the project with a view to getting it from Staleen to beyond Duleek in the first instance. It cross-cuts with the existing network and there are points where it could tie back in with the existing network. However, that section of the project must be prioritised. We need to find a long-term solution and it needs to be delivered quickly due to these continued outages.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I once again thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I acknowledge the patience and co-operation of residents and businesses in Duleek, Staleen and surrounding areas who have been affected by these outages. Uisce Éireann would like to assure customers that when an unplanned outage occurs, local water services crews are immediately dispatched to do repair work as soon as possible. It is always about ensuring that the water supply is returned to all customers as quickly as possible. As I have said, Uisce Éireann is currently reviewing the Staleen to Duleek water main following the water outage in recent weeks.

On the particular matter in respect of the Staleen water treatment plant to Windmill Hill reservoir project, the Deputy has acknowledged that the project is under way and he has put forward a proposal with regard to a phased approach. Once again, it is a matter that we will bring back to the Minister, Deputy Browne, and ask that the matter be taken up with Uisce Éireann. If he wishes, the Deputy can write directly to the Minister on the particular matter and it is something we can take up.