I thank the Chair for permission to raise this important matter and the Minister for coming in to listen to the case I have to make. As the Minister is relatively new to his office he has little responsibility to shoulder for the problems being experienced by people on the north side of Dublin with regard to water supply. I hope the Minister will have the patience to bear my criticisms as not being a reflection on him and perhaps he will be in a position to make a decision soon on this problem.
The essence of the problem is that areas of the north city are serviced by one primary water supply source, the Leixlip reservoir. The south side of Dublin is serviced from three independent sources of water and if a problem arises at one source, Dublin Corporation water engineers can maintain adequate levels of water supply — such as, in conditions of drought, high demand or emergencies. Because Dublin north side is serviced only from the Leixlip reservoir, if problems arise, there is no alternative supply.
The north side of Dublin has expanded rapidly as a suburban residential area over the past number of years but developments of the water supply have not kept pace. The Dublin Corporation and city councillors have been advised that the level of water available for the north side of the city rests on a knife edge and it takes very little to tip the balance to the side of shortage. There are many areas of the north city and into the county area which, with a very minimal drop in the level of water, lose supply. Areas such as Clonshaugh, Belcamp, Donaghmede and Raheny exist on a knife edge and when the water level drops or there is high demand, there is no supply with the result that thousands of households go without water regularly during low rainfall and high water demand periods. When water is needed most, it is not available to householders in the northern areas of Dublin city.
Problems of health, hygiene and the security of heating systems are created by the absence of an adequate water supply. It is ironic that this week when Dublin city is hosting a major UN conference on the right to water as a fundamental right, there are many thousands of households in my constituency which at weekends and other periods are without this basic fundamental right.
To combat this problem, Dublin Corporation have been building a major new north city arterial water main. The idea is to link these areas to the major source of water to Dublin Corporation at Ballymore Eustace. The connection has been planned for many years and partial construction has taken place. Areas in the north inner city have benefited greatly from this work. However, construction work stopped at Binns Bridge in Drumcondra two years ago.
The arrest of this construction is a remarkable story. In June 1990 the Taoiseach was to assume the Presidency of the European Council of Ministers and Dublin was to host many visitors from EC countries. To facilitate their easy journey to and from the airport, Dublin Corporation were requested by the Government to suspend the work, and especially not to traverse the major routes linking the city centre with the airport. Reluctantly the city council agreed. Given that all funding came from the Minister for the Environment of the day, the city manager and the council had little option but to acquiesce. Work stopped and unfortunately has not recommenced. The people of Dublin north city have paid the price for facilitating the Taoiseach's grandiose ideas and demands. Because of our courtesy and agreement to have the work stopped we have now paid the price. It is not the current Minister's fault but I hope he will recognise the justice of the case and the need to solve this problem. I also hope he will be able to tell the House if not this evening then as soon as possible, that work can recommence on this essential facility.
