'Absolute crap' from Uisce Éireann - Laois representatives browned off by water company reply

Laois councillors have dismissed as ‘crap’ a correspondence from Uisce Éireann in which claims that the company declined to meet with public representatives but committed to strengthening its engagement with politicians.

The State-owned utility, formerly Irish Water, wrote the councillors after they asked that the company to attend a meeting in Laois County Council to explain how it would to solve a long-running problem in Ballybrittas.

Many of the houses in the village are not connected to the wastewater network and Irish Water has not committed to addressing the issue flagged by councillors and the community for years.

The reply was read to councillors at a recent meeting of the Graiguecullen Portarlington Municipal District.

“We are unable to attend but we welcome any queries you have through our local support desk. As service continuity is an Uisce Éireann priority, how we engage with electoral representatives is a key focus for our team.

“To ensure speedy responses, Uisce Éireann provides dedicated support desks as well as councillor clinics and workshops to support elected representative engagement.

“It is always Uisce Éireann’s intention to provide active and timely responses to any queries raised by elected representatives as well as customers. We are however cognisant of the need to continually strengthen engagement.

“Uisce Éireann has started a review of how it engages with local authorities including local representatives. As part of this review will be consulting with various interested stakeholders including elected members through the AILG and LAMA on any draft proposals.

“Pending the outcome of the engagement review, we will continue to engage with elected representatives through existing various channels and forums including the representative support desk…Our regional communication team provides regular updates to elected representatives concerned and operates in this area via press releases and outreach.

“Uisce Éirean would like to thank the elected members of Laois for their support and reiterated their commitment on ensuring they are kept informed on developments and investments across the county and we welcome any queries,” it said.

The letter concluded by assuring councillors that Uisce Éireann intends to provide ‘accurate and up-to-date responses’ to any queries raised as quickly as possible.

Cllr PJ Kelly, Fine Gael, was the first to reply as he instigated the invite to the utility to meet with councillors. He took the reply as a refusal to engage.

“So really what it says was we will do our level best to avoid yee at all costs,” he said.

Cllr Aidan Mullins, Sinn Féin, was equally dismissive.

“I’d love to know how much they paid to a PR company to write that. Absolute crap repeated over and over that’s what it was. At the end of they day all they were saying was we’re not coming to be answerable to you guys,” he said.

Cllr Aisling Moran, independent, called the communication an ‘absolute disgrace’ and wanted to know why they declined to attend a meeting.

While, Cllr Paschal McEvoy, Fianna Fáil, said Irish Water was separate utility and so could not be forced to meet, Cllr Moran said it was funded with public money.

“Public money pays them and they should be answerable to councillors, TDs and Senators,” she said.

Cllr Ben Brennan, Independent, was also irate with Uisce Éireannn’s correspondence.

“That’s the greatest load of crap he had heard in my life,” he said.

He said the company is drawing water to the reservoir in Wolfhill which has virtually no water while they have installed infrastructure nearby that could solve the problem.