Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Those I mentioned appeared on yesterday's list from the EPA detailing issues with cryptosporidium, turbidity, trihalomethanes, etc. The people of Connemara, in particular, who were expecting the regional water scheme would be very thankful to the Government for bringing Irish Water on board, because that scheme has been scrapped. We are still drinking water that may contain cryptosporidium in our area, which is a disgrace.

The Minister of State indicated that we need a metering system to identify where the leaks are. When we debated the three Water Services Bills in this House, we put forward other suggestions that have not been followed up. For example, there is the possibility of using district metering and following water pipes to see where the leaks are. Other options were available to the Government. There is a number of anomalies; I came across one over Christmas which the Minister of State might investigate. A number of estates in County Galway have fallen into NAMA or have seen developers renege on promises to manage estates where all of the houses have not been built. A couple of tenants in such estates are left footing the Bill for the water and sewerage charges for those estates. I was called to an estate over Christmas where sewage was being pumped on to a road. When we contacted Irish Water, we were told it had nothing to do with them because the estate was overseen by a developer and might well be in NAMA. Irish Water had no responsibility, but as there is not a full group of occupants in the estate, the current occupiers cannot afford the cost of getting the treatment plant in the estate sorted out. There are major anomalies such as this in the provision of water and sewage services.

We are supporting the substantive motion, but we have also put forward an amendment calling on the Government to abolish water charges and stop the metering programme with immediate effect. That is what Conor Murphy did when he came into office in the North and my party blocked the imposition of water charges. Tá súil agam go dtógfaidh an tAire Stáit ar bord na moltaí atá déanta againn.