Mattie McGrath warned that Clonmel experienced prolonged water outages this summer, saying residents and businesses endured outages on 40 different days and suffered equipment damage. He accused Irish Water of neglect and demanded action; the minister said he would raise the matter with Ishka Aaron and highlighted a €6 billion multi-annual investment plan.
Allegations of prolonged outages
McGrath told the minister that Clonmel in South Tipperary suffered outages on 40 different days, citing interruptions at Clonmel, the Tallbury Hotel and large plants in the town. He described continuing outages since April, including night-time outages and low pressure.
Local damage and public reaction
He said domestic and business customers have been aghast at the treatment they received and that equipment damage has occurred due to the outages. McGrath emphasised the scale of the problem in what he called the biggest inland town in the country.
Concerns about schemes and reservoir supply
McGrath said reservoirs cannot be filled for the Galti scheme, the Alfin region scheme and named sources including Lingon and Carrigan Shure, and warned there are multiple sources affecting Clonmel’s supply. He accused Irish Water of neglect and described the situation as appalling.
Minister’s response and investment pledge
The minister noted he had visited Clonmel three times in 12 months and said he would raise the local water outage issue directly with Ishka Aaron, who report to the department. He pointed to a six billion euro multi-annual capital plan for water and wastewater investment and promised to revert personally to the deputy on the Clonmel matter.
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Minister, the town of Clonmel in South Tipperary have been devastated this summer by water outages, one of the wettest summers in history, and people are aghast to find that for 40 different days there were outages at Clonmel, Tallbury Hotel, large plants in the town of Clonmel, and people just can't believe that Irish water are treating their customers like this, but domestic and indeed business people in the town, the damage to their equipment and everything else by these outages, and for that end of time, and the fact that we can't fill the reservoirs in the Galti scheme, or the Alfin region scheme, Lingon and Carrigan Shure, and we have a number of sources for Clonmel, and the missing, and downright, and the tamphoolery that's going on with Irish water, and the neglect of the customers is appalling, when are you going to do something with this table, that was set up by the Fine Gael Government, that are not answered with anybody, and that people are entitled, it's not a total world country we live in, to think that a town like Clonmel, the biggest inland town in the country, would be without water, 40 days since April of this year, and contrary, continuing, and outages at night, and low pressure, and everything else, and no-one gains with Irish water. Mr. Deputy, as you know, just last week I was in Clonmel for the third time in 12 months, and a fantastic time. I was delighted to actually bump into you there when you were doing a bit of work as well that day. Mr. Deputy, just to say, look, seriously, in relation to Ishka Aaron, specifically about the water issue in Clonmel, I will raise it directly with them, particularly around water outages, they report directly to the department as well, so I would say this to you, Deputy, is that there will never be more investment in water, wastewater service across the country than now, six billion euro of investment, right the way across the country, multi-annual capital plan that's there and in place, and is taking hold, and is improving the things, but specifically in relation to Clonmel, I will revert to you myself on that matter. Thank you very much.
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