Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions
Dail Éireann — 2026-09-17
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Seamus Healy (IND), Tipperary South

Every TD in this House knows Irish Water is not fit for purpose. Every day, an Opposition TD or a Government TD raises an Irish Water issue in this Chamber. Every day, Government and Opposition TDs are on local radio criticising Irish Water. It beggars belief that despite water shortages, hosepipe bans and future and continued scarcity of water due to climate change, Irish Water would decide to close down and decommission a perfectly good water treatment system plant and reservoir. That is exactly what it proposes to do with the Poulavanogue water treatment plant, serving the town of Clonmel. This is one of the plants currently serving the town and has done so for the best part of 100 years. Irish Water also proposes to decommission the Ragwell reservoir, a facility that can hold up to two days water supply for the town.
At the same time, it is bringing very hard water into the town. This supply already supplies part of the northern part of the town and has created huge financial problems and pressures for families who are already hard pressed. It damages white goods, electric kettles, dishwashers, washing machines and showers, forcing families to replace these on a regular basis. Many families are being forced to install water softeners at considerable cost and to pay for the maintenance. Now, Irish Water proposes to impose this very hard water on homes and businesses in the town. Irish Water refuses to even consider softening this hard water at source, something which is done routinely throughout Europe and in the United States. Irish Water has also refused to mix the soft water supply at Poulavanogue with the hard water supply from Monroe to reduce the hardness. South Tipperary TDs have asked for copies of the various reports Irish Water have relied on when making these decisions. We have not received those reports.
I am asking the Minister to immediately and urgently intervene with Irish Water to stop the closure and decommissioning of the Poulavanogue water supply, maintain the Poulavanogue supply for the purpose of a backup water supply for the town and for mixing with the hard water from Monroe and make available to TDs and public representatives all reports pertaining to the closure of the Poulavanogue supply and Ragwell reservoir. Irish Water must be made accountable on these issues and others. I ask the Minister today to make sure that happens by intervening with Irish Water on these issues.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-09-17/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-28T05:50:48+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-17