Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. It is with disbelief that I raise the issue of delay in delivery of new rural group water schemes. Counties Mayo and Galway are particularly affected. When I was a Member of the Lower House, I had cause to raise this issue on numerous occasions and I had hoped I was making progress as I went along. Notwithstanding that, 235 houses in far flung areas such as Aghaloonteen, Massbrook, Tonacrick, Kilmurry, Downpatrick, Fermoyle and Carracastle have a water supply that is not fit for human consumption or any other use. These householders are crying out for assistance from the State. They live in disadvantaged rural areas, which previously came under the CLÁR scheme that was abolished in 2010. They had hoped to receive financial assistance under the scheme to help them with the construction of new group water schemes. To date, unfortunately, nothing has happened.

A commitment was given by the previous Government. For several years, Mayo County Council received €200,000 annually to progress some of the schemes. The major problem is it costs a great deal per household to deliver a scheme because of the topography and ground conditions compared to an area where ground conditions are more friendly. Last year, new rules were devised following much deliberation by the national rural group water committee and €400,000 was allocated to Mayo County Council. Not one red cent of the annual allocations has been spent. Last year, the issue was supposed to have been resolved through a new process - the rural water multi-annual programme. However, I recently learned that this issue, which comes under measure 3 of the rural water multi-annual programme, is before an expert panel again. I also understand from the local authority that whereas in previous years it would have received funding by now under the rural water programme, it has only received a small portion this year, which is funding private companies on contracts to design, build and operate schemes.They have not received all the other funding to help group water schemes cleanse water to ensure it is up to date - that is aside from new group water schemes, the category I am particularly concerned about. The local authority needs to spend from an overdraft and does not have the funding.

The people have been let down. Hard working committees in disadvantaged areas have gone out and collected money, not to pay for the water but to pay for the provision of pipe work and to retain consultants. Those involved in these schemes have spent hundreds of thousands of euro and have not been reimbursed.

With domestic households on group water schemes paying directly to Mayo County Council, the problem now arises that other people are not paying for their water. They are looking at what is happening nationally and the lack of delivery on the ground to households that are very willing to pay for their water. They understand that pipes do not just appear in the ground and that getting quality water is not just a case of putting out a bucket and getting water from the sky. These are practical people and have been greatly let down. As somebody who has represented them, I feel very let down with the lack of action.

What is to happen now? People are demoralised. The water quality is very bad. I am not talking about cryptosporidium or anything like that but about iron oxides through the water. When the tap is turned on, what comes out is red; it is not possible to wash clothes in it. Elderly people, people who are sick and people with children are affected by this. With all the controversy over the chairman designate, Mr. Joe O'Toole, I wonder if anybody is thinking about these people. Why is nobody marching on the streets for them? This has been going on for years.

I understand we came through difficult economic times, but people were led to believe that something was being progressed and yet last year the water services section of Mayo County Council went through the motions - the council did not think it was going through the motions - with two schemes, Aghaloonteen and Massbrook, thinking they would be top of the list and that each year we would see progress. However, nothing has happened. All that work that was done last year has gone by the wayside. I hope the Minister of State can give me some good news today.