DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL has unanimously passed a motion to call the Environment Minister and executives from the State’s new water body, Irish Water, before it in the coming weeks.
The motion, proposed by Fianna Fáil councillor Mary Fitzpatrick, was passed with cross-party support at the first city council meeting since four local authorities in Dublin were forced to restrict water supply last week.
This has been due to problems at the Ballymopre Eustace treatment plant which means restrictions – between 8pm and 7am – are likely to be in place until Thursday.
Dublin City Engineeer, Michael Phillips, informed the council that it will be 10 years before an alternative water source to support the capital is in place.
He also hit back at criticism from the Restaurants Association of Ireland over the shortages, saying that businesses who comply with conditions, such as having a 24-hour water supply on site and not connecting appliances to the mains, should not have problems.
Earlier Phillips said that production at the Ballymore Eustace plant have improved thought they are still 20 per cent below the required level to meet daily demand.
The motion which councillors passed tonight stated:
Dublin City Council call on the Department of the Environment and Irish Water to come before them at a specially convened City Council meeting and to outline their plans for a new water source and other infrastructure improvements required to secure the water supply in Dublin City. This meeting should take place in a reasonable period of time not exceeding 60 days.
As a result the City Manager is to issue invitations to the Minister Phil Hogan and Irish Water to come before the council to discuss the current water problems and the future of supply to the capital.
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