'Beyond a joke': Uisce Éireann criticised as Limerick councillors 'can't get answers'

UISCE Éireann has been strongly criticised over its lack of communication with local public representatives, particularly when there are water outages.

The October meeting of Cappamore - Kilmallock Municipal District heard there are persistent issues in parts of the district that are continuing to affect local residents on a regular basis - to the frustration of councillors who say they cannot get answers.

Ahead of the meeting, Cllr Noreen Stokes submitted a motion calling for information on water issues within the district to be "provided and communicated to all the councillors by the local caretakers as they arise".

In a written reply, which was circulated at the meeting, Uisce Éireann pointed out that its staff do not have the same formal relations with councillors as local authority personnel do. 

"Given that public water services are no longer provided by local authorities, Uisce Éireann does not have the same formal relationship with councillors or interaction with council business that they would have had in the past, nonetheless councillors are important local stakeholders who we want to have a strong relationship with," stated John Dempsey, local authority engagement director. 

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Mr Dempsey added that going forward, notices of motion received from the municipal districts will be forwarded to the Uisce Éireann local representative support desk which will then provide a formal response to the councillor. 

Highlighting her frustrations, Cllr Stokes said the difficulties with communication normally occur out of hours and at weekends. "It normally happens on Saturdays and Sundays, I was without water myself, recently, for four or five days. It seems to be every weekend and water is the bane of my life these days." 

Cllr Stokes pleaded for clarity as to who councillors can contact for information as it they who receive phone calls from constituents. "I need to get proper information, we need to know what's going on," she said, adding that while there is a dedicated email address for local representatives, answers may not be received for a number of days.

Supporting the motion, Cllr Martin Ryan said: "We need to stay informed with the changes happening with Uisce Éireann, there needs to be a structure put in place and a water supervisor assigned that can answer questions from a certain area."

While noting the concerns of councillors, senior executive engineer Trevor McKechnie said it was important to point out that the provision of water services is not a matter for Limerick City and County Council and that any motion regarding communication processes will have to come before the full council. 

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Councillors were unanimous in their praise for the caretakers who are working locally during a "difficult transitional period" as their employment will soon transfer to Uisce Éireann. 

Cllr Martin Ryan said there have been issues with water supplies for a long time: "It's been six years and it has never changed or stopped, there have been small changes but Irish water needs to focus on our areas, they need to put a bigger emphasis on east Limerick, it's beyond a joke." 

Cllr Stokes agreed adding: "Nurses are ringing me saying their water has been turned off overnight before they go back on their next shift, my biggest concern is I don't know who the caretakers are, I would like more communication." 

Mr McKechnie suggested that the wording of the motion be amended before it is forwarded to the full council for consideration.

Cllr Stokes agreed saying: "I do apologise if it was the wrong words but try telling that to over 36,000 people in the area, something needs to be done."