‘We need quick responses’: Importance of water services highlighted once again at Kildare-Newbridge MD meeting

The importance of water services for residents within the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District (MD) was highlighted once more at a recent Kildare County Council (KCC) meeting.

Last month, Fianna Fáil Cllr Suzanne Doyle told KCC that the MD "needs a good liason" with Uisce Éireann.

And at the latest MD meeting, which took place on Wednesday, October 15, she once again raised the importance of water services for those living within the MD.

The topic was brought back to KCC's attention when she asked the following question at the meeting: "Can the council provide details on who is responsible within KCC to act as liaison with Uisce Éireann for this MD and what the protocols are for communication between the two organisations?"

Expanding on her motion, she told KCC that water supply issues are "not bound by time" — "It can go off at any time", she added.

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"We need quick responses, and sometimes we need someone on the ground who can say: 'lads, we need to move quickly", Cllr Doyle said. "It is a fundamental public service; I'm just raising the alarm bell [because] I'm not satisfied with it [at present]."

She further said: "I think the public, and KCC, need to be more aware of this [issue] too."

The Mayor of the MD and Cllr Doyle's party colleague, Cllr Noel Heavey, also agreed with her sentiments about having "someone on the ground" when it comes to water-related issues in the MD.

RESPONSE

Replying to Cllr Doyle's query, KCC said via the report it presented at the meeting: "The Target Operating Model (TOM) staff structure is now operational in Uisce Éireann and under this structure, the managers for both Drinking Water and Wastewater in Kildare are Uisce Éireann personnel.

"There is no technical liaison person within KCC in this regard."

KCC continued: "An administrative liaison person is based in Water Services who deals with staff matters, recoupments, claims, etc under the Shared Services Agreement, but they have no role in relation to technical matters.

"All communications for both members of the public and the elected members are via dedicated channels, the following being the details related to elected members: email localrepsupport@water.ie or phone 0818 178 178."

KCC also said that all motions and questions that are raised by the members at council meetings are issued to Uisce Éireann "via a dedicated motions / questions email address also".

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In addition, KCC pointed out that a workshop for the elected members with Uisce Éireann was due to take place on Monday, October 20 last, and "that this question [referring to Cllr Doyle's question at the meeting] has also been submitted to Uisce Éireann on behalf of the members".

"The council's management meets with Uisce Éireann annually in relation to capital infrastructure planning and investment in the county," KCC concluded.

Furthermore, Eileen Hanlon, KCC's manager for Finance, Digital Services, Innovation and Governance, emphasised to the local representatives: "It is not our function [to resolve water-related issues in the MD]."

Replying to Ms Hanlon's comments, Cllr Doyle said: "I understand that, but it is a problem [in this MD]; there is a major gap."

Cllr Doyle also reiterated her general comments about the importance of water services to the public.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Suzanne Doyle. File photograph

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