Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We must get real about what we are doing and what we are talking about. I reject the point Fianna Fáil has made that Irish Water is a profit-making company and that Irish Water's purpose is to make money for itself. That is silly. It does not add up. I would not expect to see that even in a Fianna Fáil manifesto.

I refer Senator Ó Domhnaill to the EPA report. It is exceptionally clear on the issues that must be addressed by Irish Water. There were approximately 339 individual supplies in 2008, in which the EPA found a deficiency with public water supplies when conducting a risk-based assessment, either in terms of the infrastructure or operational practice. It set up a remedial action list, RAL. Of the original 339, a total of 237 have now been removed. However, remedial works will be completed on a further 47 of the original supplies by the end of 2013. Much work must be carried out to improve the service in various counties.

I am not sure whether Senator Ó Domhnaill is from Donegal but according to the EPA report Donegal County Council has not provided a completion date for seven supplies in his county. Seven supplies in County Donegal are on the remedial action list and need to be updated.