Uisce Éireann ‘turns nose up’ at Cork City Council meeting offer

Uisce Éireann has been criticised for “turning their nose up” at Cork city councillors, after confirming it will not be attending a special meeting of the council on water issues.

Speaking to The Echo, Labour Party councillor John Maher described the development as a “travesty”.

“We, as a council, across all parties and none, have highlighted the water issues across Cork city for the past two years. We have attended Uisce Éireann clinics, briefings and visits to the treatment plant, but the water quality in Cork city is still shocking,” said Mr Maher.

“Some of the most vulnerable in our society have brown water coming through their taps and appliances are being broken. Dangerous levels of manganese have been found, and Uisce Éireann decide to turn their nose at the elected members.”

Disregard

Social Democrats councillor Niamh O’Connor also criticised the decision, saying: “Uisce Éireann are showing a complete disregard for local democracy.

“There are a litany of local issues that councillors need to be able to raise directly with the company on behalf of the public. People are rightly concerned by the recent, worrying revelations surrounding manganese levels in the water,” said Ms O’Connor.

“As a city resident, I use tap water to make bottles for my son and I find it extremely distressing to think that there could be issues with that water, and that those issues might not be reported correctly.”

Tour

An Uisce Éireann spokesperson told The Echo that they commenced a series of briefings last year and have held a number of engagements, including inviting councillors to a tour of the Lee Road water treatment plant.

“Additionally, we hold annual in-person workshops with all city councillors to provide updates on water and wastewater works across Cork city and to address specific areas of interest for councillors. Such a workshop had been scheduled for Thursday, March 20,” said the spokesperson.

“This was cancelled following the council’s decision to hold a special meeting on that date, instead. Arrangements are being made to reschedule the workshop for a future date. Uisce Éireann is not in a position to attend the special meeting,” they added.