Uisce Éireann communications
The Chair welcomed visitors, and Senator Curley criticised Uisce Éireann’s poor communications with councillors and the public about water-supply discolouration and related responses.
Before I call the next speaker, I welcome guests of the Minister of State, Deputy Grealish, from Galway Golf Club. Next is Senator Curley.
Comment on this
Tá rud éigin le rá agam faoi Uisce Éireann. I want to raise the issue of Uisce Éireann's communications, particularly with public representatives.
Not alone have we had reports in the House about its communication with Oireachtas representatives but I am now getting communications from councillors that what they are getting in feedback is nowhere near sufficient. Councillor Caroline O'Reilly in Dunshaughlin in County Meath raised discolouration in the public water supply last November. Six months later she has received three generic copy-paste emails telling her and her constituents to run the cold water tap for 20 minutes and if the discolouration continues to call a generic 1800 phone number for a call centre nowhere near Dunshaughlin in County Meath with absolutely no on-the-ground knowledge. It is an extremely frustrating situation. I found it frustrating when I was a councillor. In the case of other public bodies, such as the ESB or the public lighting companies that look after the county council, we had a direct line to a direct representative who looked after our county council. If we had an issue as public representatives we had a direct phone line we could use to have a conversation to explain a niche on-the-ground issue. Councillor Caroline O'Reilly and other councillors throughout the country have no ability to do this with Uisce Éireann and I ask why this is. It is about time we brought in the Minister to discuss having a more on-the-ground presence from Uisce Éireann throughout the country so people can represent their constituents properly.