Calls for action on water quality in Dundalk area

Action needs to be taken now in order to ensure that water quality in Dundalk is improved, Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú has said.

Deputy Ó Murchú was speaking during a Dáil debate on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Quality Report and highlighted the ongoing issue of manganese and the continued appearance of brown water in parts of Dundalk.

The Louth TD was speaking as Uisce Éireann (formerly Irish Water), announced further work to the network in Dundalk.

Following the completion of works along Toberona Road and Bellewsbridge Road, the new watermain pipelaying being carried out by Uisce Éireann,moves on July 3 to the Mill Road.

Uisce Eireann said there would be a 24-hour road closure required on the Mill Road from the junction with Bellewsbridge Road to the junction of the Castletown Road, with local and emergency access maintained and diversions in place, until the end of August. Seventy metre sections of the road will be closed at a time.

Speaking in Leinster House, Deputy Ó Murchú said: “I would find it hard, coming from Dundalk, to talk about water quality without dealing with the particular issues that relate to our water supply and the issue of manganese. We have been told it would take a number of years for Uisce Éireann to deal with this particular issue.

“I call for action to be taken now. I even hear of flushing that is happening in my own area back in Bay Estate and that, again, people are looking at brown water, which we have been dealing with for a considerable amount of time.

“There is an issue in regard to legacy infrastructure in old housing estates as well that needs to be dealt with and sometimes serious pressure is put on individuals that have public lines through their land.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Ó Murchú said he is aware of ongoing HR issues with water services’ workers who went on strike in Louth on Friday due to a dispute about moving from council contracts to Uisce Éireann and the terms and conditions of the new contracts.

He said the government needs to intervene immediately to sort the issue out, while he also called on the Taoiseach to outline the wording and date for a referendum on the public ownership of water services.