Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

This issue relates to water quality in west Donegal. While County Donegal has 27 water supply schemes, two schemes, the Rosses regional and Gortahork-Falcarragh, are badly affected by defective pipes.

I acknowledge the funding of over €200,000 provided in 2008 by the Minister of State and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to repair a stretch of pipe work in the Rosses regional supply scheme in Kincasslagh. Local residents and the council staff have informed me the funding went to good use. As a result of the improved pipe network, water quality has improved significantly.

I have, however, received a large number of representations from the Crolly area concerning water quality. In the past 48 hours, the water colour resembled a dark ale or Guinness as evidenced in these photographs I am showing to the Minister of State. Mothers had to wash their children in this type of water. To be fair, the county council has since scoured the pipes and the water has since returned to a more normal colour.

In the Rosses scheme, crystal clear water enters the pipe network from the Meenaweel filter station. The cast-iron pipes, however, in this network are rusted internally and corroded which often discolours the water provided to Crolly and other areas in the Gweedore parish which the Minister of State recently visited. Water quality is important and the consumer needs to be provided with potable water. EU directives set out quality standards for water.

Donegal County Council can fix this problem but it does not have the moneys available to it. Negotiations have been ongoing between senior staff in the council and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for pipe replacement. The cost of such a project would be between €100,000 and €150,000, not a substantial amount. The public deserves good quality drinking water and I am seeking emergency funding for this upgrade project. From engineers I understand that Crolly's water quality is the worst in County Donegal.

In Glasserchoo, the pipes are constantly bursting. As a result council staff are constantly being called out. This is a cost burden to the council and affecting the water quality for local residents.

While I appreciate the Minister of State may not be able to give a definite response on funding tonight, I hope there will be a positive outcome soon.