Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

I move:

That Seanad Éireann:

notes the swift response and work of local authority workers during the cold weather emergency;

condemns Government for its slow national response to the recent weather crisis;

is concerned that no national co-ordination plan for severe weather emergencies is in place to co-ordinate local plans at a national level;

recognises the social and economic hardship caused by water restrictions and by local transport network disruptions;

recognises that an inefficient, outdated and fragmented water network has contributed to water problems across the State;

notes with concern that on average 43% of Ireland's treated water supply was lost through unidentified leaks before the recent severe cold weather;

notes the refusal of the Government to put additional financial measures in place to address severely damaged local and regional roads;

recognises that the 32% cut in the regional and local road upkeep budget implemented by the Department of Transport last year compounded damage caused by cold weather;

and calls on Government to:

establish a single water semi-State utility company to take over responsibility for water investment and management on a national basis;

reallocate future water funding from the Exchequer to prioritise water conservation;

examine all engineering resources of the State to ensure a rapid remedy to widespread burst water mains;

develop and test as a matter of priority a national severe weather emergency plan that outlines the actions to be taken by Government and its agencies; and

provide additional funding for the restoration of severely damaged local and regional roads for reasons of road safety and to minimise costly reconstruction costs caused by further deterioration.

I welcome the opportunity to move this motion and widen the debate on the issue of the response of our nation and our local authorities to what could be called the recent disasters in some cases due to recent adverse weather conditions. I welcome the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley. In fairness to the Minister, I am aware he has been willing to go public and deal with many of the issues being raised with his Department and with the Government, when it appeared nobody else was dealing with some of the issues. However, that is where the compliments stop.