At his months Plenary meeting, several councillors slammed Uisce Éireann for their lack of transparency regarding their backyard policy.
Sinn Féin Councillor Joanne Bailey raised matters with Uisce Éireann at the beginning of the meeting, requesting for the Mayor to write to Irish Water as problems have been “going on for months”.
Fine Gael Councillor Frank Quinlan then raised the backyard services issue, saying that Uisce Éireann refuse “point-blank” to take any responsibility for old waterpipes collapsing in older parts of the Waterford City.
He said: “I dealt with a few elderly people who are pensioner age. The pipe collapsed under this persons house, but its affecting nearly eight or nine houses along that road, and these are all pensioners which have to pay for this, and they don’t have the money to pay for it.”
“It’s not the people’s fault if these pipes are a hundred years old, made of led, and it’s collapsing in a persons house, it’s extremely distressing.”
Response from Executives
Director of Services Housing, Community and Emergency Services Séamus De Faoite responded: “As the housing authority, that is the role we have now, we are no longer the sanitary authority.”
“Engagement is ongoing with Uisce Éireann to outline the issue that we have as a housing authority, but also the macro issue here as well. This isn’t just a Waterford issue.”
Councillor Bailey noted later in the meeting that previously, councils had the right to go into yards and clear out blockages, but since Uisce Éireann took over all water services, those jobs are being neglected.
Director of Services Roads, Water and Environment Gabriel Hynes repeated the fact that waste water and sewerage is the responsibility of Irish Water: “It is probably a political decision plus Irish Water that need to sort this, but it is a national issue.”
Mayor’s Input
Mayor of Waterford City and County Séamus Ryan spoke on the issue, saying that he’s conscious that “meeting after meeting, Irish Water is coming up.”
He suggested that the Council contact Uisce Éireann again and invite them into the council chambers to make a presentation to the Council: “I’d prefer to talk to the person making the decisions in Irish Water, and leave them come in here and defend themselves.”
Independent Councillor Declan Clune highly criticised the Irish Water Service, saying that they’re a “disaster.”
“…they are absolutely the worst organisation that I have ever dealt with in my whole life. Before we did have a mechanism where we had workshops every month or two at district level or plenary level, we could speak to them face to face, but it’s impossible to get anything back from them.”
Independent Councillor David Daniels closed off the conversation about Uisce Éireann, saying that inviting representatives of the service into the council chambers would not solve the issue: “They’ll tell you it’s political. The ask needs to go to the Minister for the Environment.”
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