National debate on water "hijacked" for political scoring

A DELEGATION representing users of group water schemes in rural areas will seek to persuade European Commission officials in Brussels today that the cut of 5 per cent in EU aid for water projects in Ireland should not apply to them.

The National Federation of Group Water Schemes, which claims credit for helping to make water "a hot political issue", is also calling for an independent statutory authority to determine water policy.

Its chairman, Mr Bernard Keeley, accused the Government of "reckless behaviour" in its handling of water policy and said it was "inevitable" that water consumption would have to be metered for conservation.

"Some politicians lack the resolve and guts to deal objectively with the water debate", which had been "hijacked by political point scoring in an effort to impress a vulnerable electorate as we approach a general election".

The NFGWS is placing advertisements in the provincial newspapers this week detailing the responses it has received from the political parties to its principal demand for equity in the treatment of people living in rural areas.

Both Labour and Democratic Left "ignored our letter", according to the text, while Fine Gael had "no policy other than that of the Rainbow Government". Written assurances were received from Fianna Fail, the PDs and Sinn Fein.

"Political parties need to show maturity on the water issue," said the NFGWS. "They have continuously focused on how water is charged for, while water policy has remained uncoordinated, reactive and politically influenced."

Mr Keeley said the Government's decision to abolish charges meant that swimming pools in urban areas would be "filled with flee water on a daily basis" while some rural dwellers were "washing their teeth out of buckets".

People in Ballagh and Ballybeg, in Co Roscommon, had been "struggling for many years" to gel a group water scheme, while those living in Barnagh, Co Mayo, were in "dire straits" trying to get funding to up grade their supply.