Carol Nolan urges Irish Water to restore local collaboration
Carol Nolan addressed a motion from Independent Ireland on Ireland's water and wastewater infrastructure, arguing persistent delays and underinvestment are blocking housing, public health, the economy and compliance. She welcomed proposed measures as positive but said the problem is inaction, not the theoretical framework.
Motion raises concerns over water and wastewater infrastructure
Carol Nolan said the motion reflects valid concerns about underinvestment and ageing assets across Ireland's water and wastewater systems. She highlighted that persistent delays are impeding housing delivery, public health, economic activity and regulatory compliance.
Support for proposed remedies but emphasis on action
She acknowledged that many proposed measures would help the situation and that some may already be in place or under active implementation. Nolan stressed that the solutions exist but that the core failure is lack of action within the current regulatory and operational framework.
Call for Irish Water to reverse collaboration directive
Nolan said it has come to her attention that Irish Water has issued a directive preventing staff from collaborating or working with local authorities, and she raised serious concern about that decision. She called on Irish Water to review the directive and to ensure continued cooperation with local authorities so local issues can be solved locally.
Local sewerage issue in Harbour Road, Banhur County, Offaly
She drew attention to ongoing sewerage problems on Harbour Road, Banhur County, Offaly that have persisted for years and described the situation as totally unacceptable. Nolan urged Irish Water to address the matter urgently.
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This motion here this morning from Independent Ireland raises valid concerns about Ireland's water and wastewater infrastructure, reflecting ongoing challenges in a system that has historically suffered from underinvestment and ageing assets. Certainly it is the case that persistent delays block housing, public health, economy and compliance, as the motion notes. I acknowledge also that the proposed measures that are put forward as solutions are quite positive and certainly would help the situation. Some of them may already be in place or under active implementation, but it is vital that we do not continue with what is essentially an impractical regulatory and operational framework. The solutions are there, they just need to be acted upon, and it is the action that is the problem and not the theoretical framework. What I am concerned about and I want to raise this morning is it has come to my attention that Irish Water has issued a directive to its staff telling them that they are no longer allowed to collaborate or work with local authorities. Now that concerns me greatly because we know how it works with different agencies when they are not all joined up or working together and there is no collaboration. So I want to call on Irish Water to have a look at that and to make sure that they do continue to collaborate as much as possible with local authorities when local issues arise. Because when local issues arise we need local solutions and we need everyone working together whether they are local authority or Irish Water. On my last point I just want to raise ongoing sewerage issues that have gone on for years in Harbour Road, Banhur County, Offaly. I do hope that Irish Water will address this urgently because it has gone on for years and it is totally unacceptable. Thank you.
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