Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

It would be an understatement to say that the Pallaskenry-Kildimo water supply scheme, which involves an extension of the Shannon Estuary water supply scheme, has dragged on for a considerable time. The water in this location was previously sourced from Bleach Lough and there have been local objections to replacing this with the Shannon Estuary scheme extension, which would use water from the River Deel.

The council attempted to connect the water supply in Kildimo and was stopped by the Bleach Lough action committee. It was asserted in the media that people were getting dirty water from the Deel. I absolutely refute that claim. Thousands of people in County Limerick get water from the Deel. The council water from the Deel is high quality and meets ISO standard SI439-2000 drinking water guidelines. That claim has caused concern to people who for some time have been drinking water extracted from the River Deel.

This matter involves the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, even though the council is responsible for selecting the tender and for connections. A long time ago, when I was Chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts, I raised this issue with Mr. Callan, the Secretary General of the Department. I was concerned that over €5 million had been spent on construction works parallel with road improvements on the N69 to link this water scheme from Askeaton to Kildimo. That was completed and large diameter pipes were provided. However, only stagnant water has filled those pipes because the water scheme has never operated.

In two areas, Ballyshonick and Kilcornan, where group water schemes operate, the water is condemned. For over 20 years many of the people in those areas have had no access to drinking water. The council and the Department have been well-meaning in their intention to connect all these people to the Shannon Estuary scheme, but it has not happened because of protests at local level by people who want to continue using the Bleach Lough water.

In 2002 the Department asked the council to reassure it about the provision of water. Following a public consultation process, the council reported back to the Department in November 2002. It stated:

..... 8.6% of the people who attended the public consultation and completed the questionnaires were against changing their water supply source, 34.6% had general or no comments and almost 57% required the new water supply source. In total, over 91% of people either had no comment or were in favour of being provided with a new water source because of difficulties experienced with the reliability of water quality, pressure, etc. of their existing supply. In light of the outcome of the consultation process, the pressing need for additional water capacity to facilitate development in the area and the position of a number of group water schemes that were suffering from serious water quality problems and requiring a new source, it was resolved that the extension of the Shannon Estuary scheme to Pallaskenry and Kildimo should go ahead as planned.

People still resist this and over the summer months a mediation process took place with the council on one side and on the other those who opposed losing their water supply from Bleach Lough. Regrettably this seems to have foundered and no compromise formula has been reached. It has even gone to court.

The people who would have availed of those connections have the pipes outside their doors but have no water. Can we not have a meeting of minds to ensure that those with a defective water supply get an improved and enhanced supply since the resource is available?