TD queries why St Luke's patients given bottled water instead of perfectly good Kilkenny tapwater

A local TD has queried why patients at St Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny appear to be given bottled water despite Kilkenny's high-quality tapwater.

Fianna Fail's Jennifer Murnane O'Connor was speaking in the Dáíl on the issue of water quality, when she raised the issue with her constituency colleague, Minister of State Malcolm Noonan.

"I recently visited someone in the hospital in Kilkenny. Ninety percent of the time I was there, the patients were getting bottled water," she said.

"I do not know whether it is because of Covid, health and safety or a water issue. I have not heard anything about it. This is happening at a time when we are trying to eliminate the use of plastics and there is a cost issue as well. Are we using bottled water in a lot of places?

"Is this part of the Government plan? Will the Minister of State check that out for me? I do understand if it is a health and safety issue, particularly in hospitals."

Responding, Minister of State Noonan said he did not know what the reason is.

"The municipal water supply in Kilkenny is excellent. I do not know what the rationale is for that," he said.

Deputy Murnane O'Connor also expressed concerns with the ongoing saga of poor water quality in North Kilkenny, where frustrated residents continue to have to boil their water.

My statement on that EPA report and Ireland's deteriorating water quality, delivered in the Dáil today. To #restorenature and reverse that decline, I'm calling for leadership, collaboration and honesty - something that's been missing from the debate on the Nature Restoration Law. pic.twitter.com/gKZBeO3byp

— Malcolm Noonan T.D. (@noonan_malcolm) June 28, 2023

"Turbidity issues are affecting treatment processes at the water treatment plant in Kilkenny, which has resulted in a very long boil water notice in Castlecomer recently. Residents wrote to me complaining that the water quality is still no better after the lifting of the notices," she said.

"One couple who told me they had built a new home within the past two years have paid roughly €5,000 for water and wastewater connection along with all associated contributions to the local authority but have not yet had a consistent clean supply of water during that time. My understanding is that Irish Water is not providing clear updates and it appears that the current supply has eroded pipes as the colour of the water can sometimes be musty.

"The parents of a newborn baby who had to bottle feed for medical reasons told me they had to buy bottled water because they felt there was an issue with the water. They also told me that when they were bathing their baby, they thought the water colour was a bit off."

Deputy Noonan confirmed that the boil water notices in Castlecomer put in place on 16 December 2022 were lifted in January and reimposed on February 27 as a result of turbidity issues.

"Uisce Éireann is working to resolve those issues," he said.