Water-meter flooding damage
Senator Mulherin raises cases where water-meter installation caused vacant or renovated homes in Ballina to flood; the Chair says the point has been made.
I raise a problem of which I am particularly aware in my home town of Ballina relating to the installation of meters by GMC-Sierra on behalf of Irish Water. In a number of cases, the contractor - GMC-Sierra and its agent - went to install the meter and switched the water back on after the installation. A problem arose in unoccupied houses or some that were being renovated, as the houses have flooded. This happened in March 2014, when the job was undertaken in Ballina. I am aware that it took approximately three months for an assessor to inspect the problem. The issue went from GMC-Sierra to Irish Water to an insurance company. To my shock, I am told the house I describe and ten others - 11 houses in total - still have not been sorted out and the owners have not been compensated for the damage. I saw a rented house recently where the water had been switched off because of a leak in a pipe to a hot water tank. When GMC-Sierra workers switched on the water, the house flooded. It was reported at the time.
Ballina and surrounding areas in County Mayo, with other parts of the country, were among the first to have water meters. I wonder how widespread is the issue. Is it really acceptable that it has taken this long for Irish Water and GMC-Sierra to look after people with rented properties who have not been able to take in rental income? I ask the appropriate Minister to investigate this issue in order that we can get some answers. Is this the way business is to be done? Will the insurance company or Irish Water cover the cost? What is the policy with the installation of these water meters? This is a real problem for several house owners in my town and it may be even more widespread, particularly in some of the areas where the water meters were first installed. It is not good enough for this to be the position after more than two years. That is not the way people should be dealt with. These people were required to register for water and pay water charges but they now have had to cough up to fix their houses. It is not good enough.
