Food agency's water polluted

The water supply to be used by the EU's new Food and Veterinary Agency in Co Meath is contaminated, tests carried out by the European Commission have shown.

The tests on the group water scheme late last year showed faecal coliform bacteria, which did not comply with EU standards. The agency is to move to Kiltale, near Grange, Co Meath, early next year with 160 staff.

A spokesman for the Department of the Environment said the agency had planned to use the group water scheme, but it was expected that the facility would be incorporated into a regional scheme later.

Mr John Cushnahan MEP said it was ironic that agency headquarters would be getting polluted water.

"At a time when the issue of food safety is dominating the political agenda, it does not inspire public confidence in Ireland's ability to be the location for important EU institutions related to food safety," he said.

"Additionally, Ireland is also currently in breach of a number of EU directives concerning the environment." A case is pending in the EU Court of Justice over the standard of group water schemes in the State.

The Department of the Environment spokesman said there had been problems with group water schemes for a long time, but the Government had spent more money on improving group water schemes than any previous government.

Grants and subsidies worth £55 million have been approved for upgrading rural water supply systems this year. Under the Rural Water Programme, Meath will receive £875,000 in grants this year.

The spokesman said the Minister, Mr Dempsey, had warned group schemes that their supplies would be transferred to local authorities if grants were not taken up and water quality improved.