By Chris Ashmore
A DONEGAL councillor has claimed that a question he sent to Uisce Eireann in September 2024 was not answered until June 2025.
Cllr Brian Carr was highlighting dissatisfaction with the public water utility operator at the monthly meeting of Donegal County Council where several councillors also raised issues.
Cllr Jack Murray was particularly critical of Uisce Eireann in relation to a string of issues in Inishowen.
Tabling a motion calling for a scaling up of infrastructure and an explanation for disruptions over the past two months, he said the frequency and unpredictability of outages was causing uncertainty.
He said one man he had spoken to near Buncrana had had “no more than a dribble of water for three weeks” and he questioned why Buncrana and Inishowen was not getting sufficient water from the Fullerton Dam.
With regard to the Uisce Eireann call centre in Cork, he felt the people there “had not a clue” when they were informed about incidents in Donegal.
Criticising Uisce Eireann’s communications team, he reported that he had got a reply for a query five weeks later.
Seconding his motion, Cllr Carr felt there was a “lack of back-up plans” and spoke of a situation in Leitirmacaward when there was a disruption to water supplies but people did not know when a back up tanker would be there.
Councillors were told that the model regarding the water network has changed since September 2023. Donegal Co. Council used to be directly responsible for water services and at one time employed 200 people directly. With the establishment of Uisce Eireann, that is now down to 60 and by year end will be zero. Cllr. Murray was informed that his motion has been sent to Uisce Eireann, with the latter being asked to respond directly to the public representative., and to other elected members of the Council.
