I want to raise the crisis with regard to the water supply in the north Dublin region. It is ironic that, at a time when many Members representing the midlands and west complain about very heavy rainfall and huge water levels, the Dublin area water supply is and for some time past has been in crisis, in that the 320 million litres of water annually produced by Dublin Corporation and the approximate 90 million produced by Finagal County Council barely meet the demand.
In many areas of the north side of the city there is continuous throttling back each night, sometimes total shut-off of supply for extended periods, and long periods of poor pressure, especially at night, upsetting many people. There are many stories of people such as pregnant women being unable to take a drink of water at night because of an unannounced diminution in pressure or total shut-off. The areas most severely affected stretch right across my constituency from Clonshaugh and Artane across to Raheny, including many others on the northern fringe of the city such as Finglas and Glasnevin across to Killester.In all those areas in recent weeks and months there has been totally unacceptable pressure and supply of water. I acknowledge that there has been significant investment recently to improve the overall position but, unfortunately, it was too little, too late. For example, there has been the 1B contract scheme at Ballymore Eustace which increased water output in 1992 to 50 million gallons daily, accompanied by many other measures by way of telemetry, rehabilitation of water mains, stoppage of leakages and water conservation generally. Dublin Corporation and Fingal County Council have launched major plans, attempting to prevent current leaks.
That being said, some more recent developments such as the north arterial water main, although having improved the water supply distribution, has not increased overall output. Residents on the north side of the city desperately await the completion of the Leixlip water treatment plant costing £2.3 million to afford them some degree of respite from water supply difficulties. Engineers within Dublin Corporation and Fingal County Council have drawn up major development plans. We know the overall demand on water supply to this city will be 450 million litres of water daily by the end of the century. For instance, there was the recent production of the 1994-99 development plan for water supply and main drainage within Dublin Corporation and County Dublin, the greater Dublin region.
Will the Minister say why the mandarins in her Department stopped contract 1C six months ago, designed to significantly increase water supply at Ballymore Eustace at a cost of £33 million. We understand that Dublin Corporation had obtained planning permission, had everything in place to commence work, when suddenly the Department of the Environment pulled the plug. We are told this will necessitate a year-long study. We do not need a study, we know the problem, its size and how desperately residents on the north side of the city, in particular, require an expansion of the water supply to them. Can it be that there is another agenda, perhaps to privatise our overall water supply, because of the significant investment that may be required over the forthcoming ten years, amounting to some £100 million? If that is so we must immediately stop following it. We must support the efforts of our local officials in providing a water supply that meets the requirements of the city. Major housing developments are under way in Fingal, in my constituency. While I welcome the additional housing for people and the work such development provides I question whether we should give planning permission for such development if there is not an adequate water supply in the area.
I am aware that the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Deputy McManus, and my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Deputy Howlin, have a fine record in tackling difficult problems. Perhaps one of the most difficult they face in the Department is that posed by the inadequate water supply in the city. As the Labour leader in Dublin City Council and one who represents a small part of the Fingal area I am sure I speak on behalf of all citizens. The problem requires urgent action and the Minister should sanction the approval of contract 1C immediately and implement the development plan for an adequate water supply in the greater Dublin region.
