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Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín says a six-week hosepipe ban after a week or two of fine weather is “incredible.”
Deputy Tóibín said the government would be better to focus on improving Ireland’s water infrastructure than announcing hosepipe bans.
He said: “It has rained for 77 days across Ireland so far this year. At the start of this year it rained continuously for 54 consecutive days.
“We have been blessed with a fine spell of weather for a couple of weeks and already there is now a six-week hosepipe ban for many counties.
The Meath West TD said: “This should not distract from the fact there are towns in my county that have not had a proper supply of water for weeks.
“Uisce Éireann spends €250,000 per year to tanker water to Ballivor. The local school had to be closed as a result.
“Uisce Éireann was recently fined €20m for not fixing just a portion of the 37% of water leaking from pipes. It has said that it’s going to take until 2050 before the gaps in the water infrastructure are filled. This is preventing the building of thousands of houses.
“Even in developing countries, it is the government’s responsibility to keep the water in the taps. Yet the government is failing in this.
“It’s incredible we have a hose pipe ban now in place across many counties. We’re functioning with a ragged water infrastructure system Many part do the country are struggling – even without the good weather – to provide water for citizens. We’re operating on a ragged system.”
“We need a significant investment in our infrastructure as soon as possible that needs to be ramped up and speeded up, currently.”
The hosepipe ban has been issued by Uisce Éireann beginning yesteday for an expected period of six-week for six areas around the country in response to the warm wesather.
The water conservation order covers Dublin, south Tipperary, parts of Kildare, Meath, Wexford and Wicklow, and was issued due to the “exceptionally warm and dry weather” Uisce Éireann said.
The ban begins after midnight Thursday, and is expected to remain in place until 26 August unless conditions improve.
It forbids watering gardens with a hose, washing vehicles and filling paddling pools amongst other activities.
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