Margaret Cox (Fianna Fail)

Consequently, they are being forced to buy their water, which costs 39 cent per litre. It is not only poor families on social welfare who are affected but also families in middle-income households who have been experiencing increases in mortgage repayments, child care fees and other inflation related increases every month.

I have four children. In this regard, has the Minister any concept of the number of litres of water used in a house every day for washing one's teeth and making one's tea and the porridge in the morning? It is a considerable amount and we therefore need to do something about the problem.

I am delighted to be joined by my colleague from Galway West, Deputy Fahey, because I know his interest in the issue is equally as deep as mine. If we do not give all the affected families, particularly those on social welfare, free water or vouchers to allow them to buy it in the supermarket, they will accumulate debts to live and avail of a basic human right. I made the point on the Order of Business that according to the World Health Organisation, clean, safe water is a guaranteed human right. I quoted Kofi Annan, who stated every person is entitled to clean, healthy water. Currently, 90,000 people in Galway do not have that. If that is not a state of national emergency, I do not know what is. As and from tomorrow morning, every social welfare recipient in the affected areas in County Galway should be given vouchers to allow them to get free water until a proper plan is put in place to deal with the problem. I thank the Acting Chairman for his indulgence.