Water Supply: Cryptosporidium

Part of the debate – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 1:00 pm on 11 September 2000.

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Photo of Alban Maginness Alban Maginness Social Democratic and Labour Party 1:00, 11 September 2000

In relation to the overall problem, can the Minister assure the House that he believes that the Department’s officials acted as promptly as they could, given the circumstances of this outbreak?

From reading the press and listening to local reaction, I know that members of the public felt that officials could perhaps have acted earlier. I would like the Minister to reassure the House that they acted as promptly as they could, given all the circumstances.

Can the Minister confirm if the contamination source is human? Is he satisfied that the septic tank referred to in the report is the source of contamination, and the only source of contamination? Is he satisfied that all possible remedial work has been carried out in order to provide a safe water source for the people living in the Lagmore, Poleglass and north Lisburn areas? Finally, as regards funding for the Water Service, what measures, in relation to the Executive, has the Minister taken to rectify this historic underfunding so that the people of Northern Ireland will have an up-to-date water service adequate to meet their needs?