Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)
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It would be an understatement to say that the Pallaskenry-Kildimo water supply scheme, which involves an extension of the Shannon Estuary water supply scheme, has dragged on for a considerable time. The water in this location was previously sourced from Bleach Lough and there have been local objections to replacing this with the Shannon Estuary scheme extension, which would use water from the River Deel.

The council attempted to connect the water supply in Kildimo and was stopped by the Bleach Lough action committee. It was asserted in the media that people were getting dirty water from the Deel. I absolutely refute that claim. Thousands of people in County Limerick get water from the Deel. The council water from the Deel is high quality and meets ISO standard SI439-2000 drinking water guidelines. That claim has caused concern to people who for some time have been drinking water extracted from the River Deel.

This matter involves the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, even though the council is responsible for selecting the tender and for connections. A long time ago, when I was Chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts, I raised this issue with Mr. Callan, the Secretary General of the Department. I was concerned that over €5 million had been spent on construction works parallel with road improvements on the N69 to link this water scheme from Askeaton to Kildimo. That was completed and large diameter pipes were provided. However, only stagnant water has filled those pipes because the water scheme has never operated.

In two areas, Ballyshonick and Kilcornan, where group water schemes operate, the water is condemned. For over 20 years many of the people in those areas have had no access to drinking water. The council and the Department have been well-meaning in their intention to connect all these people to the Shannon Estuary scheme, but it has not happened because of protests at local level by people who want to continue using the Bleach Lough water.

In 2002 the Department asked the council to reassure it about the provision of water. Following a public consultation process, the council reported back to the Department in November 2002. It stated:

..... 8.6% of the people who attended the public consultation and completed the questionnaires were against changing their water supply source, 34.6% had general or no comments and almost 57% required the new water supply source. In total, over 91% of people either had no comment or were in favour of being provided with a new water source because of difficulties experienced with the reliability of water quality, pressure, etc. of their existing supply. In light of the outcome of the consultation process, the pressing need for additional water capacity to facilitate development in the area and the position of a number of group water schemes that were suffering from serious water quality problems and requiring a new source, it was resolved that the extension of the Shannon Estuary scheme to Pallaskenry and Kildimo should go ahead as planned.

People still resist this and over the summer months a mediation process took place with the council on one side and on the other those who opposed losing their water supply from Bleach Lough. Regrettably this seems to have foundered and no compromise formula has been reached. It has even gone to court.

The people who would have availed of those connections have the pipes outside their doors but have no water. Can we not have a meeting of minds to ensure that those with a defective water supply get an improved and enhanced supply since the resource is available?

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Senator for raising this issue. My Department has provided significant funding for various improvements and extensions to the Shannon Estuary water supply scheme. The Water Services Investment Programme 2005-07 includes some €5.5 million for an upgrade of the treatment works and an extension of the supply system to Pallaskenry and Kildimo. The Department also provided moneys in recent years to extend the scheme to Askeaton.

Protests by some people who want to retain their present supply from the Bleach Lough source, rather than be connected to the Shannon Estuary scheme, are delaying completion of the extension to Pallaskenry and Kildimo. The issue has been before the courts, and Limerick County Council, which is the sanitary authority and also the contracting authority for the works involved, is trying to resolve it as quickly as possible. I, too, am anxious to see an early solution, not just for Pallaskenry and Kildimo but also for the group waiting for a connection to the Shannon Estuary scheme so that its members will no longer have to put up with a sub-standard service. Group schemes in Ballyshonick and Kilcornan, currently supplied from seriously deficient sources, are waiting anxiously for the Shannon Estuary scheme extension so they can connect up to it and have clean drinking water. I understand the distribution networks of both group schemes in these areas are currently being upgraded by Limerick County Council in anticipation of the connection to the Shannon Estuary scheme.

My Department provides a significant amount of funding nationally to improve water and sewerage facilities for the benefit of communities. Ultimately, it is the local authorities which are responsible for putting the physical infrastructure in place and for dealing with related issues on the ground. This is local government in action and we should respect the democratic mandate it carries.

The best way to summarise the position in this case is to quote from a press release issued by Limerick County Council in recent days after its latest effort to advance the works was halted by protesters. The press release stated:

Limerick County Council has made every effort possible to reach a compromise with protestors in the Kildimo-Pallaskenry area and has engaged in over 50 hours of discussions with their representatives since talks commenced last June. However, objectors refused to accept any of the compromises on offer and it was agreed, in the company of two independent facilitators, at our last meeting on November 23 that negotiations could go no further. In accordance with that, Limerick County Council has decided to proceed with completing the interconnections. The council is fully committed to completing the interconnection at the earliest possible date.

This is a local issue and it will have to be resolved at local level. I hope good sense will prevail and that the current impasse can be resolved in the near future in the best interests of the health and safety of local people.

Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)
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I am grateful for the Minister's response which outlined the up-to-date position. The water is up to ISO standard. Is it not the policy of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government that anyone extracting water should conform to European guidelines? I wish to nail down the veracity of the story propagated in the media to the effect that people who are currently using water supplied by the Shannon Estuary and Deel water schemes are, by definition, getting dirty water. Am I correct in asserting the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government would not allow anyone to extract water without conforming to EU guidelines?

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ultimately, responsibility has been delegated to local authorities. They have their own science laboratories to test water quality. Water supplies must conform with the water framework directive. Accordingly, I can only conclude that, in certain circumstances, it is. The underlying problem is that the water is not up to the standard required by the directive in certain areas. For that reason, the Department has provided funding to ensure good, clean, healthy water is supplied to people in those areas. This scheme will go ahead. We ask that compromises should be made in the interests of all the people rather than of the sectional interests involved.