Govt must act urgently on drinking water standards

Press Release: Environment 25 January 2007

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25 January 2007

Govt must act urgently on drinking water standards – Cuffe
Roche has been 'sitting on his hands' over water services bill

Green Party Environment spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD today echoed concerns raised by the EPA about the quality of drinking water being provided to Ireland's homes. Deputy Cuffe called on the Government to prioritise legislation to ensure local authorities have adequate resources to maintain high water quality standards.

Reacting to the publication of 'The Quality of Drinking Water in Ireland - a Report for the Year 2004' Deputy Cuffe said: "The fact that 36 per cent of the private group water schemes were found to have been contaminated with E. coli shows just how important it is to have vigilant enforcement of the monitoring and protection standards of our drinking water.

"A water services bill was introduced to the Dáil in 2003 and the licensing scheme envisaged under this bill would require group water schemes to meet water quality and environmental standards in order to qualify for a licence. However, we are still waiting to see this legislation to be enacted. The Minister for the Environment has been sitting on his hands and I am calling on the Government to ensure that this bill is enacted without delay," Deputy Cuffe concluded.

Ciarán Cuffe is a TD for the Dún Laoghaire Dáil Constituency. Ciarán can be contacted at Dáil Éireann, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 or 96 Patrick Street, Dún Laoghaire Tel. 284 6060 or 618 3082, Fax 618 4341, Email Ciaran CiaranCuffe.com, or Text Ciaran on 087 265 2075.