I thank you, a Leas-Chathaoirleach, for allowing me to raise this most important issue in the House this evening, an issue which has caused much disturbance in Monaghan town. I also welcome the Minister of State to the House and hopefully the debate this evening will be productive.
I placed a request for this debate because the quality of water in Monaghan town was a major issue during the recent local elections. It is generally agreed that the quality of water in some parts of the town is seriously substandard. The water is drawn from three different sources — Togan, Lambs Lake and the Saint Davnett's borehole. The water from Togan is of good quality; however, the water from the other two sources is substandard. At regular intervals it contains sediment, is discoloured and carries an unsavoury odour. Consumer's can see these obvious imperfections for themselves in the water and they have, naturally, formed the opinion that the water is unfit for human consumption.
The people believe that the water constitutes a danger to health. At certain times people find that their clothing and other items are discoloured after washing. Indeed, ingenious housewives are now placing items for washing inside a pillow case in an effort to prevent discolouring, an exercise which is partially successful.
However, the most important aspect of the situation is that consumer's are afraid to drink the water. They are providing for their household needs either by purchasing water in the shops or, as is the case for many people, by drawing water from clean wells.
This situation is untenable and unique in urban Ireland today. An urgent solution to the problem must be found, and hopefully the debate in the House this evening will give impetus and urgency to this effort. In this respect, and on behalf of the people of Monaghan town, I urge the Minister to take a personal interest in this problem.
The Minister should satisfy himself that the water in parts of the town is seriously substandard. When he realises the seriousness of the situation the Minister will be impelled to take immediate action. He will find that the situation is unacceptable and that it should not allowed to continue for one minute longer.
The Department's plan for that area is that the new water source for Monaghan town should be sourced in the Tydavnet underground basin. Indeed, the Department has already provided finance for test drilling of this source. However, the problem in this instance is that it will be a number of years before the source is tapped. It is obvious that consumers in Monaghan town cannot be asked to wait until good water from this source is available.
There is another solution which I would like the Minister to evaluate urgently. Monaghan County Council has developed a regional source at Kilkitt, east of Ballybay. This scheme can provide an abundance of good water, which is currently being fed to households a few miles from Monaghan town through the pipes of a rural water scheme. At very little cost this good water could be supplied to the disillusioned householders in Monaghan town. It could be flowing through the taps within a short period of time. When the Minister examines the situation I hope he will agree that this solution must be pursued as a matter of urgency. My purpose this evening is to persuade the Minister to take this course of action and I hope I will succeed in that.
There is one element of this matter which saddens me greatly and which I feel I must report to the House. During the course of the local election campaign a Sinn Féin candidate, who is a sitting member of Monaghan County Council, publicised the fact that he held in his possession documented proof that the water in Monaghan town constituted a health hazard. This information was widely publicised in the local media and at public meetings. However, on two separate occasions today I requested that his alleged proof be presented to the Minister this evening. He callously declined to provide it. I can only conclude that he used the poor quality of the water to collect votes in the election. Mind you, he was quite successful in that. If that turns out to be the case, many people will conclude that his approach was wildly irresponsible. He will be accused of callous and dangerous bluff, having no regard for the health of the people he purports to represent. By refusing to bring forward his alleged documented proof today, he effectively made a negative contribution to finding a solution. He put himself forward during the campaign as the single most outspoken proponent of a solution for the problem.
I urge the Minister to fully inform himself of the substandard quality of the water in Monaghan. I further urge that he immediately initiate steps to bring good quality water from the Kilkitt scheme to the beleaguered consumers in Monaghan town.
