This article is from page 18 of the 2012-02-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 18 JPG
CLARE County Council’s water staff was last night encouraged by some members of the council to go on strike and bring the country to a halt.
The council was reacting to news of Government plans to give full responsibility for water supply to a new national body.
Cllr Gerry Flynn (Ind) told the February meeting of the council, “I feel it is time for Clare County Council to stand up and be counted and withdraw that service.”
Fellow Independent councillor Tommy Brennan said that if every council followed suit, it would bring the country to a standstill. Electricity and power rely on water too, he explained. Without these services, the country could not function.
The majority of councillors were concerned with the implications of a new Irish Water Company, as it would inevitably erode more of the local authority’s powers and more than likely lead to job losses within its water section.
Cllr Bill Chambers (FF) led the charge that the members of the council were opposed to having its responsibilities for water maintenance and provision transferred to the new Irish Water Company.
“The last thing we want now is another quango with high-paid officials,” he said.
Father of the council Cllr PJ Kelly (FF) said he could not understand the Government making such a proposal given difficulties experienced in Northern Ireland during this winter.
“We can huff and puff about taking water from the Shannon, but if it is nationalised, they can make a canal and bring all the water to Dublin,” he added.
Former mayor Cllr Christy Curtin (Ind) said there was no indication of early consultation with the stakeholders. He also had reservations about the second phase of the process – the consultation phase.
“Are they going to listen to us or is it a courtesy exercise to appease the peasants?” he asked.
“This debate is coming too late. It would appear this is a fait de compli,” said Cllr McCarthy who raised concerns about council jobs if and when it was set up.
“By degrees we will have no function at all as councillors,” said Cllr Brennan.
County Manager Tom Coughlan said that there was a lot of uncertainty surrounding the plan. Among his many concerns was the possible loss of council assets to the Irish Wa- ter Company but with the liabilities staying in the county.
“I have serious concerns in relation to the financial statement. I have concerns the council will be left in a worse financial state at the end of it.”
He said the council is carrying a € 13 million debt balance which is mostly due to water. “I hope the liabilities transfer with the assets,” he added.
The manager said a lot was still uncertain, not least the future of the council staff working in this area.
He raised concerns about the loss of control of planning issues relating to water and a lack to democratic responsibility under the new proposal.