Fingal County Councillors hold meeting with Irish Water representatives

Fingal County Councillors have met with representatives from Irish Water following the two recent Boiled Water Notices that affected water supply in the Greater Dublin region. 

Irish Water’s National Head of Asset Operations Michael O’Leary attended a meeting of the Organisation and Procedure Committee at County Hall in Swords. Irish Water had previously been invited to the full council meeting in November but declined to attend.

Mr O’Leary briefed councillors on the up-to-date position following the incidents that occurred at the Leixlip Water Treatment Plant in October and November. He went through the actions required in the short, medium and long term and also listed the next steps before answering a wide range of questions from councillors.

Leixlip supplies 30% of the water supply for the Greater Dublin Region including the majority of the 300,000 citizens living in Fingal. Around one-third of the water it produces comes from the new plant, which was constructed in 2014, with the remaining two-thirds of the supply being produced by the older plant.

Since 2014 Fingal County Council has operated Leixlip Water Treatment Plant under a Service Level Agreement with Irish Water. Under the Agreement, Fingal County Council’s Water Services Department provides staffing on a 24-hour basis, Irish Water is responsible for all costs incurred. Any decisions regarding capital refurbishment and replacement at the Plant are made by Irish Water and paid for by Irish Water.

Mayor of Fingal Cllr Eoghan O’Brien said: ‘I am pleased that Irish Water attended the meeting today where councillors had the opportunity to hear directly from them about the recent Boil Water Notices. Although I and other Councillors were disappointed that Irish Water declined to attend the publicly broadcast County Council meeting. The two incidents had a significant impact on Fingal residents and it was important that councillors were able to outline their concerns and seek answers on behalf of their constituents.”