Tipperary TD slams Uisce Éreann's 'dereliction of duty' to those left without water

The current crisis within water services in Tipperary is evident of a dereliction of duty by Uisce Éireann towards the people it is tasked with serving, according to Tipperary TD Martin Browne.

He was speaking as thousands of people across the county are subject to either water interruptions, boil water notices, or poor, inadequate and intermittent supply.

“Thousands of people are at their wit’s end because of continuous issues with their water supplies. And to make matters worse, the level of information being given by the utility company to the very people who are putting up with the dreadful service being provided is wholly unacceptable," said the Sinn Féin TD.

Deputy Browne said that people were unable to shower, toilets can’t be flushed, and families with young children, or infirm relatives or relatives with particular requirements were feeling it the worst. Farms and business are struggling with an uncertain supply.

"Yet the response from Irish Water is leisurely at best, while families and business struggle," said the Cashel TD.

He said that he was consistently in contact with Irish Water on a dedicated support line, but the level of information provided by the utility company was far from adequate, with a lack of local knowledge evident, and a response time that did not reflect the urgency of the situation on the ground for households and businesses across the county.

“The chaotic situation caused by Irish Water is of their making. It is not because of industrial action by water services workers. It is because Irish Water is unaccountable, and, therefore, does not have the commitment to the needs of the public that local authorities had when they were responsible for addressing issues with water supplies," said Deputy Browne.

“It could lead you to believe that the disgraceful situation that has been allowed to develop is an intentional ploy to force people into accepting water charges down the line," he said. “But this is not the answer."

Deputy Browne said that since the creation of Irish Water there had been a lack of accountability, a lack of local knowledge, and no duty of care to the communities across Tipperary who they were supposed to provide with a service which was a human right.