Cork water infrastructure
Deputy O'Sullivan raises ongoing contamination and discolouration problems in Cork city's water supply and says long-term pipe replacement will take decades. The Minister says he is meeting Uisce Éireann management and will seek additional capital funding and targeted works for Cork and other legacy schemes.
I will raise my favourite hobby horse, namely, Uisce Éireann. It was raised previously by other colleagues. The Minister is obviously familiar with the situation in Cork city, where there is discoloured and contaminated water on a continual basis. TDs in the Cork constituencies attended a meeting two weeks ago with Uisce Éireann. It became clear that Uisce Éireann is trying to divert resources into solving the city's ongoing issues. The replacement of cast-iron pipes there is going to take decades. Let us be straight about it. In the short term Uisce Éireann has identified other water treatment plants and wastewater treatment plants in the city on which it can do some mitigating works. It will not be ready to do that until quarter 2 of 2025. It is diverting reources from other projects to try to get those works done. I cannot stress how important it will be to ensure people in Cork city get proper drinking water. We need to ensure the upcoming budget provides an increase in funding for Uisce Éireann to do that.
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy. We have discussed these particular issues in Cork city and beyond. I am meeting the chief executive and the incoming chairperson of Uisce Éireann. I will seek additional funding for Uisce Éireann on the capital side to carry out additional works. The Deputy referred to Cork city. That is a big piece of work. Another scheme that we discussed is the Carrignavar scheme. There are others where I would like to see Uisce Éireann provide a focused programme to address some of the legacy issues and improve the lot. I will be seeking additional capital funds above and beyond what has been allocated already. I need to mandate Uisce Éireann to carry out certain works as part of that too. I have found my engagement with the company to be very decent heretofore. It is doing a good job, spending the money it has and investing it, but we need to take a further step up. People have been very patient in Cork and Cork city with regard to problems they have had. I thank the Deputy for raising the issue with me. I will revert to him directly on the matter.