20 new east Mayo homes delayed due to water treatment issue

Twenty new social housing units in Kiltimagh cannot go ahead because the local water treatment plant is still awaiting an upgrade.

The issue has been highlighted by Mayo TD Rose Conway-Walsh.

She hit out: "It makes a mockery of the town centre initiatives and the development of digital hubs when basic infrastructure is not even provided in these towns.

"What powers does the government have in relation to Irish Water? Can it instruct Irish Water to take action?"

Speaking in Dáil Eireann, she further stated: "What in the name of God is going on with Irish Water with regard to farmers in Mayo and single farms, often comprising several small plots of land, which require water?

"It is incredible that Irish Water is attempting to charge already struggling farmers for multiple water supplies.

"The same acreage in other parts of the country, with large commercial farms, are charged for one supply.

"Even more despicable is that Irish Water is refusing to appear before Mayo County Council to answer questions from directly-elected councillors.

"Where did Irish Water get its mandate from?

"Councillors are being treated with contempt in Mayo when trying to get answers from Irish Water for their own constituents.

"When Phil Hogan created Irish Water, he hardly meant to conceive an unaccountable monster but this is what Irish Water is turning into.

"We saw recently how a Government Minister struggled to get information from the HSE.

"Are we now in a similar position with Irish Water? The government needs to hold Irish Water to account and pull it back.

"The government is accountable to the people, including county councillors who are the elected representatives.

"We cannot afford to have another HSE that is unaccountable to the people. All we are asking is that basic water infrastructure be delivered for the people of Mayo and other counties. It is not happening through Irish Water."