Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to clarify the position regarding the recent issues with water quality in Bantry. As Senators will be aware, the operation and maintenance of water supply infrastructure is the responsibility of the local authority concerned, in this instance Cork County Council. Under the drinking water regulations, local authorities are obliged to ensure any failure to meet quality standards in a water supply is investigated immediately to determine the cause. The authority is required to consult the HSE to determine whether there is a potential danger to human health and, if there is, to agree the appropriate action, including the prompt notification of consumers. In the case of public supplies, a local authority is also obliged to inform the Environmental Protection Agency promptly and the EPA can issue such directions to a local authority as necessary to prevent or remove any health risk.

I understand Cork County Council has taken the necessary steps under this supervisory framework. The council has contacted the HSE and the EPA about the cryptosporidium contamination of the Bantry water supply and is following both agencies' instructions in the matter. The council has issued a "boil water" notice to affected consumers, has made tankered water available, has established a dedicated contact number for consumers and is carrying out ongoing monitoring of the water supply for quality purposes. I understand the most recent results show the water supply to be free of cryptosporidium.

There are longer-term proposals to upgrade the water supply infrastructure in Bantry and its hinterland. Two separate schemes, Bantry water and Bantry regional water supply, are included for funding in the Department's water services investment programme 2007-09, at a total estimated cost of more than €24 million. I understand that the council is preparing contract documents for the proposed Bantry water supply scheme but cannot finalise those documents until the legal action in the Circuit Court against the council's abstraction and impoundment proposals, being brought by a local landowner, has concluded. The court action has been ongoing since May 2006.

The delay with the Bantry water supply scheme has also delayed the planning phase of the regional scheme which would extend the scheme into the hinterland of Bantry town. The Department awaits the council's design brief for the appointment of consultants to prepare a preliminary report setting out the scale, scope and estimated costs of the regional scheme. Pending eventual delivery of the Bantry water and regional water supply schemes, the Department has provided funding to the council to facilitate a programme of interim works to improve the quality of the Bantry water supply, involving works at the two treatment plants currently serving Bantry. This includes €22,500 for works at Millenacoola, which was the source of the recent contamination. This funding supported the installation of additional water quality monitoring instrumentation and other remedial works at the plant.

Funding has also been approved, as an advance on the Bantry water supply scheme, for the upgrading of the existing treatment plant at Derryginagh, for which tenders will be sought shortly, the provision of a new water treatment plant at Cahernacrin and related works to improve the supply. I understand the Cahernacrin plant will become operational next month and when fully operational the Millenacoola plant will be decommissioned and maintained on a stand-by basis. The new plant will operate with a full cryptosporidium barrier using ozone and UV treatment. Once commissioned, the council expects the "boil water" notice to be lifted shortly thereafter, subject to the agreement of the HSE.

A total of €3.14 million has been provided to date by my Department under the water services investment programme for these interim works pending the advancement of the main scheme. I hope this helps to clarify the matter for the Senator.