Dundalk councillors call out Uisce Éireann on failure to communicate

Councillors at the final Dundalk Municipal District meeting ahead of the local elections, slammed Uisce Éireann (formerly known as Irish Water) for its failure to respond to queries and its lack of communication.

Cllr Emma Coffey was first to raise the matter at the June meeting, commenting on "the state of the water in Dundalk", which she said was "a lovely tinge of brown". Cllr Coffey said that as far as she was aware, the issue was affecting areas from Dromiskin and as far as Kilkerley.

Cllr Coffey added that she has written to and rung Uisce Éireann, on the matter but is still waiting on an update.

Cllr Maeve Yore put forward that they as a collective write to the Minister to say that Uisce Éireann is "not fit for purpose". "We're not getting any replies as elected reps never mind people who are trying to ring them", Cllr Yore added.

Cllr Yore further added that she has concerns over sewage capacity in Dromiskin, as well as a sink hole on Distillery Lane, that she has reported in the past four weeks, and that it was getting bigger.

Cllr Liam Reilly put forward that there needs to be a contact "that can at least respond" to queries, adding that he knows it is no longer a council responsibility but Uisce Éireann were "not responding at all".

Cllr Reilly added that "yet they will send out a bill to a local man for €1.5 million" to connect to the water supply, in relation to a housing development taking place in the area.

"It's ridiculous", he continued, "they communicate when they want to in relation to money. A €1.5 million bill exceeds all expectations."

In relation to the sewage works in Dromiskin, Cllr Reilly added that there was tankers of sewage leaving the plant “every single day”.