Dublin Bay South water problems
Ivana Bacik raised water supply disruptions and poor water quality in parts of Dublin Bay South, including brown residue in taps. The Taoiseach deferred to the Minister, who outlined major investment and said water testing and publication could be improved.
I will raise a very serious issue regarding water quality and supply in my constituency of Dublin Bay South. Over the last week, we have had a serious disruption to water supply to households, schools and businesses across Dublin 6 and Dublin 6 west with minimal communication from Irish Water, which is deeply frustrating for residents. In addition, residents in Sandymount and Irishtown have ongoing problems with water quality. I have seen alarming pictures of brown residue in the so-called drinking water coming out of their taps.
Allied to this, along Sandymount Strand and as far down as Seapoint in Dún Laoghaire, we are seeing dreadful conditions, with sewage and waste being washed up and with a lack of maintenance and care being taken for public amenities. Will the Taoiseach ensure, through the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, that there is engagement with Irish Water about the quality and continuity of its service? Will the Taoiseach and all of his Government engage with me on the Dublin Bay Bill I have put forward in this House to ensure we have better governance around the environmental monitoring and control of Dublin Bay?
Comment on this
I thank Deputy Bacik for raising this issue. Uisce Éireann, or Irish Water, now has an unprecedented capital budget that is on a multi-annual basis. That will include some very important infrastructural upgrades that pertain directly to the Deputy's area and the quality of water in Dublin Bay, such as the second wastewater treatment plant at Ringsend, which will be fully commissioned shortly. Regarding water testing and water quality, the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, and I have engaged with groups such as SOS Dublin Bay. I do not see any reason the testing of water cannot be done and published on a year-round basis. We are working towards that. We have engaged with the three coastal Dublin local authorities in that space. The Minister of State and I continue to engage and we would like to see that done quite quickly.
Comment on this
I thank the Minister. That is very welcome.