Sinn Féin general election candidate Cllr. Conor D. McGuinness has said that tackling the shortcomings with water infrastructure will be a key task for the new Government.
He highlighted ongoing issues in Bonmahon, Lismore, Dungarvan and across Co. Waterford, and said a Sinn Féin led government would review Uisce Éireann’s capital plan, increase capital investment by a minimum of €1.5 billion, and hold a referendum on public ownership.
McGuinness said:
“Co. Waterford has been let down by Uisce Éireann and the disastrous policy decisions made by Fianna Fáil, the Green Party, Fine Gael and Labour over successive governments.
“Chaos in Lismore, an outdate sewage system in Bonmahon, years of disruption in Dungarvan, frequent supply issues in Touraneena – and a whole litany of other shortcomings. The lack of investment is not only causing problems for existing domestic and commercial customers, but in some cases it is holding up delivery of new housing, and causing serious environmental damage.
“This is the legacy of the outgoing government and its immediate predecessors.
“The delivery of drinking water and wastewater services is essential to the delivery of our ambitious public and private housing programme. Delivering an average of 60,000 new homes a year will require increased investment in Uisce Éireann’s capital programme to deliver these services.
“A Sinn Féin led government will increase capital investment in the delivery of water and wastewater services by at least an additional €1.5billion over five years, and we will undertake a comprehensive review of Uisce Éireann’s capital programme to ensure it can meet the needs of our ambitious housing plan
“Sinn Féin believes that drinking water and wastewater services should be provided on the basis of need and not as a commercial product. Water services must be and remain a public service.
“We will hold a referendum to enshrine the public ownership of the water, and ensure greater transparency and accountability from Uisce Éireann by implementing formal reporting mechanisms to Local Authorities and the Oireachtas
“Sinn Féin will restructure Uisce Éireann as a non-commercial semi-state company, and ensure a continued footprint of water services in Local Authority offices and depots.
“The only way to avoid more of the same is to vote Sinn Féin and return a new government with clear plans and a fresh approach.”
Conor D. McGuinness TD 