Tipperary TD demands immediate Government intervention over water failures

Tipperary South TD Mattie McGrath has issued a renewed and urgent call for Government intervention into what he described as the “systemic and escalating failures of Irish Water” in South Tipperary.

Speaking in Dáil Éireann, Deputy McGrath condemned the utility’s handling of recent upgrade works, which he says have left communities, businesses, and even the hospital without a secure and reliable water supply.

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“Irish Water has dismantled a functioning system and replaced it with chaos,” Deputy McGrath said.

“A 10-inch main that had reliably served half of Clonmel for over two decades was deliberately disconnected, leaving the town reliant on a weaker supply with no backup. That’s not progress, it’s sabotage.”

Deputy McGrath expressed deep concern over the marginalisation of experienced local water staff, many of whom have decades of knowledge of the Clonmel network: “These are men who know every inch of the system. Instead of being consulted, they’re being ignored, transferred, or pressured into a company they have no confidence in. Their expertise is being discarded, and the public is paying the price.

“We have people in charge who don’t have a clue and don’t seem to care. I can’t meet engineers who understand the system but can meet executive after executive who talk about investment but don’t understand the workings on the ground,” said Deputy McGrath.

He also criticised the increasing reliance on automated systems, which he says has led to delays in response during critical weather events.

“In the past, local Council water staff would physically inspect and clean screens during heavy rainfall. Now we’re waiting on a computer to send a message to someone causing unnecessary delays and what we get is Boil water notices, dirty water, and outages.”

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Deputy McGrath highlighted a number of major failings in the water system in recent months including how a manufacturing company in Clonmel is actively considering relocating to another part of the country due to the water instability; Tipperary University Hospital recently ran out of water for the first time in its history, requiring emergency tankers and Months-long boil water notices have affected homes, businesses, and vulnerable residents across the county.

He also criticised the Minister responsible for failing to attend the Dáil debate and for allowing Irish Water to operate without oversight.

“Irish Water is accountable to no one, not to the public, not to elected representatives, and certainly not to the people whose livelihoods depend on clean, reliable water. We hear buzzwords like ‘resilience’ and ‘upgrades’, but what we’re seeing is incompetence and neglect.”

“Irish Water is unfit for purpose. Until there is transparency and accountability, more businesses, and more jobs will be put at risk. I will continue to raise this issue until the people of Clonmel and South Tipperary receive the safe, reliable water supply they are entitled to,” concluded Deputy McGrath.