Seanad debates

Tuesday, 25 February 2014

Adjournment Matters

Water Quality Issues

6:00 pm

Photo of Thomas ByrneThomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Tá áthas orm deis a bheith agam labhairt ar an ábhar tábhachtach seo agus cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire freisin. I thank the Minister for coming to the House to discuss an issue which is significant in County Meath, particularly in those areas where hard water is a feature. Many of County Meath's residents who are new to the area are not used to hard water; we are talking about a sizeable number of people, given the fact that 60% of the population was not born in the county. In various parts of County Meath, the water is very hard, as has been acknowledged by Meath County Council. The council has produced an information leaflet outlining to people what to do about hard water. The practical reality for those who have hard water is that it is very costly. They incur costs through, for example, having to replace kettles regularly. At a more serious level, however, costs are incurred through having to replace boilers, tanks and so forth.

I attended a public meeting in Ashbourne a number of weeks ago which was organised by a completely non-political group of concerned residents. I was very impressed because normally such meetings have a political angle, particularly in the run-up to elections but this one did not. The aim of the group was to put pressure on politicians of all hues to raise and address this issue. I attended the meeting with my party colleague, Mr. Sean Smith from Ashbourne.

People have had to spend huge sums of money dealing with the consequences of hard water. It was interesting to note at the meeting that very few people were saying that they were not going to pay the water charges. Most of those who attended were more concerned with making sure that the charging structure would be fair and would reflect the extra costs incurred by those living in hard water areas because those costs are huge. I am not asking for a subsidy for the installation of water softeners, although some people at the meeting did suggest that. Most people would be happy if there was a recognition in the charging structure of the extra costs incurred in hard water areas and it is worthwhile exerting political pressure in this regard. The Commission on Energy Regulation, CER, is engaging in a consultation process where this matter can be raised but it is also important to raise it in these Houses. I look forward to the Minister's response.

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