Irish Water Criticised Over Changes For Checking Water Infrastructure

Irish water criticised over changes for checking water infrastructure

The Chairman of Wexford County Council has criticised Irish Water over a move in relation to housing estates - which he says will cause much more bureaucracy for the system with far less accountability. Fianna Fáil Councillor Malcolm Byrne says the company have issued letters to local authorities warning against taking charge of private estates where water infrastructure is involved. Irish Water says estates need to be signed off by them first - instead of the old practice whereby the council's engineers would certify whether the infrastructure is up to standard following work carried out by developers. Councillor Byrne says it's the residents in these estates that havn't been taken in charge that will suffer. He says the difference with the local authority is that he as a councillor could call the council's engineers to account for their action. It means residents or the local authority will have to take responsibility for their water.