The recommendations of the independent report into the cryptosporidium crisis must be followed despite it being “more concerned with protecting the institution rather than the public who suffered”.
This is the view of Independent Cllr Catherine Connolly on the Institute of Public Administration’s report of the independent review into cryptosporidium and E-coli incidents in Galway.
Cllr Connolly said the report confirms the “serious concerns expressed by herself and other councillors in relation to how the water crisis was handled by city management”.
According to the Galway City West councillor, the report “clearly identifies the failure” of City Hall to “communicate effectively with the public and indeed the city councillors by calling an emergency meeting”.
She said: “It further confirms that this failure led to a serious erosion of public confidence in the city council’s ability to provide safe drinking water, a lack of confidence which still continues.”
The report also makes four recommendations in relation to how to respond to any such future crisis; how to manage any future risk; the need for the city council to develop a fully documented strategy for water supply; and renewed attention to be given to how high risk schemes such as Old Terryland can be addressed.
Cllr Connolly said the report noted that “sufficient mechanisms were not in place within Galway City Council to highlight the continuing high level of risk associated with the Old Terryland plant and the pressing need to put in place a viable alternative supply”.
However Cllr Connolly was critical of the report saying it was “simply bizarre” to “highlight such deficiencies” and then go on to note that the city council’s response to the crisis was “generally sound”.
She also berated the report for “the utter failure” to “consult with any member of the public who suffered as a result of the cryptosporidium crisis”.
