Rose Conway-Walsh: Rural residents told to pay for basic water
Rose Conway-Walsh criticised the government's handling of rural infrastructure, saying residents in Taratighe were told to pay £2,359 by Friday for basic clean water while €102.4 billion is allocated for 2026–2030. She addressed the minister directly, calling the government "out of touch" and demanding fairness for rural Ireland.
Allegation of unfair water charges
Residents in Taratighe were cited as being told they must pay £2,359 by Friday or lose access to clean water. Conway-Walsh highlighted pensioners who are "absolutely distraught" and families already in poverty because of the cost of living.
Contrast with large budget allocation
She referenced a government allocation of €102.4 billion over a five-year period from 2026 to 2030 and questioned the disconnect between that figure and the reality facing rural communities. Conway-Walsh used the discrepancy to argue the government is out of touch with local needs.
Road safety and local infrastructure concerns
Conway-Walsh raised the condition of regional and local roads, singling out the R312 connecting Castlebar to Eris as unfit even for ordinary cars. She said the road had to be used by an ambulance carrying Stephen Lavelle and by other people who were "absolutely ill and sometimes dying," underscoring risks to health and safety.
Direct appeal to the minister and demand for fairness
Addressing the minister, Conway-Walsh repeated calls for fairness for rural Ireland and stressed that infrastructure complaints extend beyond water to roads and local services. She argued the government must match headline spending figures with tangible improvements for rural communities.
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Minister, I just want to give you an example of how out of touch this government is. You say €102.4 billion has been allocated over a five-year period from 2026 to 2030, whippity-doo-dah. At the same time, I have people contacting me from Taratighe who are being told that just to have water, just basic water, they have to pay £2,359 by Friday, or they won't get clean water, they won't get basic water. How can we be spending billions, and we have people in rural Ireland who are being asked to pay that and pay it by Friday, pensioners who are absolutely distraught, people who are already in poverty because of the cost of living. I am asking you once and for all, can you please, please give fairness to people in rural Ireland. When we talk about infrastructure, it is not only water and the lack of clean water, it is also our roads, our regional and our local roads. I have spoken to you many times about a road you will know, the R312, the regional road connecting Castlebar to Eris. The regional road whereby Stephen Lavelle had to travel in the ambulance and other people who are absolutely ill and sometimes dying have to travel. A road that is not fit to put a car in, never mind an ambulance. And you tell me that £102.4 billion is being spent and we should be jumping up and down and happy about it. Well, I am sorry, but there is an absolute disconnect to this Government and what is happening in rural Ireland in terms of infrastructure? Thank you.
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