Water for 1.25m people is unsafe

DRINKING water supplies for 1.25 million people have failed to meet safety standards — prompting calls for greater accountability of local authorities.

Labour Party deputy for Dublin Mid-West Joanna Tuffy said yesterday the “shocking” state of water schemes had been allowed to get worse over time and city and county councils had to be answerable.

“The legislation may well be in place but clearly the enforcement of the legislation is just not strong enough. The time for treating local authorities with kid gloves in this regard is long past,” she said.