Public water forum warns against privatisation of services

The head of the Public Water Forum has said water must be kept in public ownership, and warned that the lack of safeguards against privatisation was not helping secure public support for the reform of water services.

Tom Collins also said that while uncertainty over the future of water charges and Irish Water made long-term planning difficult, it was essential that public health issues such as lead pipes, contamination, and the discharge of raw sewage, get urgent attention.

The 32-member forum which Dr Collins chairs raised the issues in its first formal report, a response to Irish Water’s investment plan for 2017-2021.