Fine Gael TD for Galway West and Mayo South, Seán Kyne has welcomed the positive result for water quality at Clifden in the Environmental Protection Agency latest report.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA ) notes in its report that Clifden, which had been classified as poor in 2014 – and for much of the last decade – has shown ‘significant improvements in 2015 due to investment in sewage infrastructure’.
The EPA went on to confirm that all of the samples taken in 2015 were of ‘excellent quality’.
“Such a positive transformation has not happened by accident,” said Deputy Kyne. “The improvement at Clifden, as well as other improvements around the county, is proof of Irish Water’s ability to effectively manage our water and waste-water services.
“For the first time in decades we have a steady source of revenue under the direction of a publicly-owned national company to fund the much-needed investment in our water and waste-water services. Contracts have been entered into for new schemes and upgrades; work is underway on design and planning on others.
He said that legislation to abolish Irish Water and postpone water charges is irresponsible and puts at risk the progress achieved as well as the planned investment for Galway’s water infrastructure.
“It is also unfair on citizens who have responsibly paid water bills from Irish Water, not to mention the many families outside the main urban centres across Galway who have been paying for water and waste-water services for years.
“The progress we have made to date on upgrading our water and waste-water infrastructure and services must not be thrown away. The focus should be on building on this progress to ensure a clean, reliable and trustworthy service for all areas,” he concluded.
