Taoiseach to seek answers on water discolouration in Cork city

TAOISEACH Simon Harris is to ask Uisce Éireann to provide a timeline for the resolution of the issues regarding discoloured water which is continuing to impact residents in parts of Cork city.

It follows concerns raised in the Dáil yesterday by People Before Profit/Solidarity Cork North Central TD Mick Barry.

Mr Barry said the issue of the discoloured water had been raised “door after door” in the election campaigns in recent weeks.

He described how a father had to lift his 10-year-old son up to wash him with bottled water in a sink because he was afraid to allow his child use a shower due to the colour of the water.

“On April 15, nearly two full months ago, your Tánaiste told Uisce Éireann he wanted to see a timeline for sorting this issue out. To my knowledge no such timeline has been announced,” said the TD.

“Maybe it’s time for you to travel to Cork and meet Uisce Éireann, Taoiseach, because I will tell you one thing, this cannot keep going on the way it is going.”

Taoiseach Simon Harris said: “The points that you make are real and valid and very worrying for me.

“I will personally ask Uisce Éireann’s chief executive for a timeline in relation to that and I will personally come back to you on it too.

“I can only imagine the frustration for your constituents in some of the situations that you outlined.”

In response to a query from The Echo, an Uisce Éireann spokesperson did not provide a timeline for the resolution of the situation but pointed to an investment of €4m to replace 4.2km of old cast-iron pipes along the south quays.

“Our dedicated water quality taskforce continues to prioritise our response to water discolouration for affected customers in Cork City and as part of that work, we liaise closely with stakeholders including local politicians and national representatives,” the spokesperson said.