Dublin South West representative, Seán Crowe TD, commenting on the announcement that water restrictions are to be introduced to the greater Dublin area said that the restrictions were a scandal and a direct legacy of under investment and dithering by consecutive Ministers for Environment and their governments.
Crowe said that the water shortage has been predicted almost to the day by successive reports that landed on the desks of local Authority Managers and Ministers, and that a decision on how to secure the future supply of water for Dublin needs to be made
Deputy Seán Crowe said:
‘Water restrictions are due to begin in the Dublin area this evening, causing low pressure and loss of supply. This is a scandal and a direct legacy of under investment and dithering by consecutive Ministers for Environment and their governments.
“It beggars believe that in 21st century Ireland we cannot guarantee water in the capital city. This is not an act of god, a coincidence or even a shortage of rain water. The government has to share the main burden of blame for the dry taps of Dublin.
“The current government has slashed funding for Water Services from €495m in 2010 to €43.9m in this year’s budget.
This was funding supposedly for major public water supply and sewage schemes. The roll out of that type of decision is leaving water and its supply the poor relation when it comes to investment and future planning.
“Directly linked to these cuts is the public investment put into Uisce Eireann. Uisce Eireann received €500m as an initial start-up and in this year’s budget it received another €240m investment of public money.
“Surely these large sums of money would be better off invested in infrastructure and combating the leaks that are causing water loss.
No amount of domestic water meters will compensate for decades of under investment.
“It is ridiculous but households will now be paying three times for the water they are not getting, through their taxation, in public investment in Uisce Eireann and now in proposed water rates.
“Businesses and those in hospitality trade will also suffer from the water shortage and have not heard any workable solutions or announcements from the authorities. Their desperate pleas for supports would appear to be falling on deaf ears with urgent response or talk of water tankers being supplied during peak periods.
“Sinn Féin is calling on Minster Hogan to redirect funding from Uisce Eireann to public works and the upgrading of Dublin’s water infrastructure.
“The water shortage has been predicted almost to the day by successive reports that landed on local Authority Managers and Minister desks and that a decision on how to secure the future supply of water for Dublin needs to be made.”
ENDS