Inishowen residents urged to take part in national public consultation on water services

Inishowen residents have been urged to take part in national public consultation on water services being conducted by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities.

Buncrana county councillor Joy Beard is urging residents, community groups and businesses across Inishowen to actively take part in the public consultation, which will shape Uisce Éireann’s investment programme for the period 2025 to 2029, will determine how funding is prioritised and where critical upgrades to water and wastewater infrastructure will take place over the coming years. 

Cllr Beard said it is essential that Inishowen’s voice is clearly heard during this process, given the scale and frequency of water-related problems across the peninsula.

“Inishowen has been under-invested in for far too long when it comes to water infrastructure, and we are now living with the consequences. 

“As we begin 2026, a boil water notice is in place for customers supplied by the Buncrana water treatment plant. This follows a year marked by repeated burst mains, prolonged water outages and a summer where some local businesses were forced to close because there was simply no water.”

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The 100% Redress Party councillor said the situation is unacceptable and must be addressed as a matter of urgency.

“Safe and reliable water is a basic necessity. Families have gone days without water. Businesses have suffered serious losses. Communities have been left frustrated and anxious, particularly during periods of high demand. This cannot continue, and it is simply not acceptable in 2026.”

Cllr Beard stressed that the public consultation is a critical opportunity for Inishowen to push for long-overdue investment.

“This consultation is not just a formality. It directly influences where funding goes and which projects are prioritised. If Inishowen does not make its case clearly and strongly, there is a real risk that our needs will once again be overlooked.”

She encouraged people to make submissions based on their own experiences.

“You do not need technical knowledge to take part. I am encouraging people to outline the reality they are living with, including outages, boil water notices, pressure issues and the impact on daily life and livelihoods. Every submission strengthens the case for Inishowen to receive the investment it urgently needs.”