Water debate flows as Uisce Éireann asked to MD

Residents get bills for tens of thousands of euros

Some residents in the Ballyjamesduff district were issued water bills for tens of thousands of euro by Uisce Éireann amid a dispute about leaks and other issues.

The cases were highlighted at the October meeting of the local MD when Independent Ireland Cllr Shane P. O’Reilly called for a representative of Uisce Éireann to attend a meeting of the Ballyjamesduff Municipal District to address what he described as “a total systems failure” in dealing with residents’ water and wastewater problems.

Cllr O’Reilly said his motion had been prompted by growing frustration around incorrect meter readings, huge bills, unresolved leaks and unpaid invoices for clean-up work.

“Uisce Éireann are an abomination of an organisation. I am sick of them,” he told the meeting. “I’m actually at the end of my tether with them.”

He said that, although Uisce Éireann had a dedicated elected representative line, councillors still struggle to get problems resolved. Giving examples, he described a case involving a leak which had reportedly taken years to resolve, with an elderly man receiving a bill of more than €40,000.

In another case, an elderly man in his mid-80s and in poor health had received a bill for €12,000. Cllr O’Reilly said the man had been asked to repeatedly take and submit meter readings, with the process continuing for six months. “The last bill when it showed up, his water for the six months was €90,” he said, while letters threatening disconnection had nevertheless been issued.

Cllr O’Reilly praised Uisce Éireann workers on the ground, saying they were “actually a dream to deal with if you can get talking to them”, but criticised the organisation’s call centre and what he described as a lack of communication between departments.

He also highlighted the case of a local sports facility, which had spent around €2,500 cleaning up sewage following flooding. “When that organisation sent in the invoices to Uisce Éireann, as they were told to do so, Uisce Éireann can’t find them,” he said.

Cllr Noel Connell (SF) supported the motion and described a case in Ballyjamesduff involving a woman receiving bills of around €50,000 because, he said, the wrong water meter was being read. “She is emailing them all the time. ‘Will you please come out and do something?’” he said. “She is not heard. It’s shocking.”

Cllr Winston Bennett (FG) said a serious leak on the Arva Road in Ballinagh had reportedly been outstanding since the previous May and had been reported around 40 times.

Cllr T.P. O’Reilly (FG) also recalled a case where a public sewer overflowed into a woman’s home, forcing her to leave for six months. He said she was told her only recourse was to take the matter to court.

Cllr Shane P. O’Reilly said it was unacceptable that individuals should have to pursue such cases themselves. “That woman shouldn’t be looking for recourse. They should be coming to her on bended knees,” he said.

He called for Uisce Éireann representatives to attend the municipal district and have “a meaningful discussion” with the six elected members. “Don’t be coming with someone who is going to read out of a textbook,” he said. “Come in, sit down and answer the questions.”

Area Engineer John McGahern warned that the councillors might be “optimistic” if they expected Uisce Éireann to attend.

Cllr O’Reilly, however, said the letter should be sent so that the council could at least say “we’ve tried”.