Modernising our water system will create jobs

The Irish Water debacle staggers on and one can only feel the company has lost all credibility with their proposed customers. But our water supply is not one issue but two.

In Ireland, water is not a precious commodity. It rains down on us endlessly, flows though us and lies all around us. Our forefathers paid for and built the collection plants, treatment centres and distribution networks to deliver it to our homes.

This water is essential for life and should be free to all who live on this island but has always been charged for through central taxation and this is still the case. The current scam is simply an effort to charge us all twice for it.

However, the real problem is our ailing network and the seepage of 40%-60% of the treated water back into the ground.

It will take a major one-off capital spend to put this right. A truly democratic Government would hire in the expertise to design and cost a programme of repair, extension and replacement and allow the Government to present a proposal to the people to raise billions to cover the cost as a one-off over a short term period.

We could then freely vote to accept a scheme to raise the funds.

A major national project such as this would provide much needed employment for four or five years and ensure availability of clean free water for future generations.

All that would remain then would be for the “Elected Democratic Government” to enshrine ownership of Ireland’s water in the Constitution as belonging to the Irish people. Maybe that’s the first thing they should do.

John Mallon

5 Shamrock Road,

Mayfield, Cork.