50% of people surveyed believe water quality has deteriorated

ALMOST half of all Irish people say water quality has deteriorated over the past five years and two thirds believe it is now a serious problem.

Most blame agriculture but also believe climate change poses a growing risk to their water.

Labour MEP Proinsias De Rossa said the EU survey showed that Environment Minister John Gormley must get to grips with the situation. “If he (Mr Gormley) is to ensure Irish people have access to clean water under EU law and avoid taxpayers forking out huge amounts in unnecessary fines, he has to get to grips with the problem of water quality.”