asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware of the serious situation caused by impure drinking water supplied to migrants on the Malone estate, Newhaggard, Trim, County Meath; that four cases of typhoid fever have already occurred at different houses on this estate; that the pumps erected are sucking up only surface water and have mostly gone dry, and that the colony are depending at present on the rain water which flows from houses and out-offices for their drinking water; and if he will have immediate steps taken to have the pumps sunk to a proper depth, and the present position, which is a menace to public health, attended to.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meath Migrants' Drinking Water.
The Land Commission have provided four new pumps for the use of their allottees on the Malone estate at Newhaggard. The wells are sunk to the most suitable depth, and there have been no complaints that they are going dry. Numerous samples of water from each well were taken for analysis. The reports of the analyst on samples taken last month show evidence of harmful organic pollution in one case in which the pump was not being used—in fact, the condition of the water may be due to lack of use of the pump. It is intended to pump out and treat this well with a view to clearing the water.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, I would like the Minister to realise that in this case two of the pumps had gone dry definitely, and the third is giving such bad water that animals will not drink it. Surely these people cannot be expected to keep on boiling water every time they want a drink. The Minister should give the matter more attention, because it is very serious.