Once again water in Galway is undrinkable. Residents of Old Mervue, Bohermore, Shantalla, and Claddagh areas cannot use their tap water at present. If they do they risk being poisoned.
The council says that the quality of water dispatched to the areas is of the highest quality and that the contamination emanates from the lead pipes within the domestic dwellings themselves. This appears to be true. Paradoxically it is the houses themselves that are poisoning the residents. Either way nothing is being done as we currently have a political stand-off with nobody willing to take responsibility for solving this mess.
It is said to be a matter of finance. As a result the health and welfare of the residents are being sacrificed in order to save money. It is estimated to cost an average of €600 - €800 per house to change the piping within these houses. Both Galway City Council and the Dept of the Environment say that it is not their responsibility and that they cannot do anything about it. Meanwhile the residents continue to be poisoned.
This situation exists because cowards with no political or moral integrity are once again passing the buck. It is a valid point that the maintenance and upkeep of a private house is the responsibility of its owner. It is equally valid for the residents that cannot afford to upgrade their pipes to ask for some help from Government. This is not a situation of their making. A suggestion that some subvention from the proposed second homes tax be used to solve this problem has been tabled and with luck this may happen. If not what happens then?
One solution would be to offer three-way support to affected householders. The Dept of Environment and Local Council pay two thirds and they pay one third themselves. Government can organise an interest-free loan for those who cannot afford to pay their share up front.
If managed properly the employment spin-offs and resulting tax take would render this initiative revenue neutral. If made open to public tender then estimated figures could be radically reduced for such a volume of work. Our council should insist upon this with the Government. If it is not agreed then ALL councillors without exception should immediately withdraw their support for Government.
The bottom line is that once again many residents of Galway cannot drink the water. Leaving out the actual annoyance of the situation, people who are currently severely financially challenged are now tasked with purchasing water. This is not an acceptable situation. It needs to be dealt with immediately.
Clean drinking water is a most basic right in a developed society. Given that we are surrounded by the stuff, for there to be a problem drinking is a scandal that is farcical in the extreme.
I cannot fathom how our elected representatives in Government are not held to task about something as serious and unfair as this. It is nobody’s fault that the situation has arisen but the failure to deal with this matter lies squarely at the door of Government, local and national. It is time to do your jobs, guys.
Postscript: In the greater scheme of things we are talking about a small amount of money. Minister Gormally and Co should be forced to get their act together and find a workable solution. This can be solved quite easily given the political will, however it should never have become a political football. Why it is being let drag on so long is beyond me. Perhaps the areas affected are not seen as being of strategic importance to those who can implement a solution. Remember that, people of the affected areas, when the Government asks for your vote next time.
Pearce Flannery, founder of acclaimed business advisors Pragmatica is widely regarded as Ireland's premier business consultant, business coach and motivational speaker. He is a board member of Autopolis, leading international automotive consultants. His blog www.grabbingtheoyster.com is hugely popular having a reputation for straight talking and innovative thinking on socio-economic and political matters.
Contact Pearce: [email protected].
