Health, homelessness and other issues just as important as water to most people in Louth – Fitzpatrick

Fine Gael TD for Louth, Peter Fitzpatrick, speaking in Dáil Éireann this week, outlined that while water is an important issue, and equality for those who paid is needed, other issues such as housing and homelessness deserve just as much attention.

“There is no doubt that water is a very emotive issue but many people are tired of the constant speculation and want to focus on health, education, housing and the economy.

“People I speak to want to know our plans for the health service, how we will tackle the waiting times in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and improve the services available in the Louth Hospital in Dundalk.

“People want to know how we are going to reduce class sizes in secondary and primary schools, improve access to 3rd level education like the DkIT and continue the very active capital investment programme in our schools.

“In relation to housing, they want to know how we can provide extra housing and they want to know how we are going to attract young men and women home.

“There is no doubt that the upgrade of the public water and waste water services is vital and the €1 billion per year has to come from somewhere.

“It is essential that we form a stable government and it appears that the only option is a minority Fine Gael led government. In order for this to happen compromises on Irish Water will have to be made.

“However it is my belief that one of those compromises should not be to allow a situation to arise where one cohort of people have paid, and another has not.

“We must look at a way to reimburse households that have paid their water charges or to pursue those who have not paid.

“We also need to consider members of group water schemes who have been paying for their water for years. We can’t just ignore them.

“It is expected that an independent commission and a Dáil Committee will examine the issue of charging for water and the house will have an opportunity to vote on how we are to finance our public water and waste water services in the future.

“Too many people use the water issue as a political football for cheap populist gain yet offer no viable or workable alternative. We need to come up with a solution that will allow us to provide the public with a water and waste water service that is both cost effective and fit for purpose. However we must put the same resources and effort into other issues which are equally important.”