Earlier on, the Minister spoke about the need to develop our rural towns and villages as it is a critically important part of our country's development. I am really beginning to question the capacity of Irish Water to play its part in that. The people of Gort in south Galway have been without a drinking water supply since 2 February when Irish Water issued a boil water notice to almost 3,000 customers there. Almost five months later, that supply has not been restored. Despite my best efforts at engaging with Irish Water, nothing of any great certainty has been given to me about when the service might be restored. Will the Minister engage with the CEO of Irish Water to determine the definitive timeline for when the supply of drinking water to the town is restored and that there is ongoing communication and engagement with the people in that town to keep them abreast of what is happening? I have seen nothing but a deep disrespect for the people of that town in terms of how Irish Water has engaged with them and this long-running saga of almost five months must be brought to a close.

First, I assure Deputy Cannon that I will make contact myself with Irish Water on behalf of his constituents in Gort. I can give him an update on it that the filtration system has been replaced and both filters are now in place. They have been linked to an automatic alarm system. There is a three-day sampling and testing programme that commenced in conjunction with the environment regulation team in Irish Water and that just happened on Tuesday, 21 June. There were no issues highlighted. Irish Water continues to liaise with the HSE and the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, to ensure the notice is lifted as quickly as possible. On completion, Irish Water will liaise with the HSE and EPA on the lifting of that notice. I will personally take that matter up on the Deputy's behalf.