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No benefit of hindsight is required to point out the terrible state of Northern Ireland’s water supply network. Under-investment has been highlighted by everyone (and his dog) for decades and yet successive direct rule administrations, the Strategic Investment Board, and the devolved institutions have done precious little to resolve the problem.
And now tens of thousands of people are without water and Northern Ireland – because of a few days of frost – is making national news headlines. Like some third world country a sizeable percentage of the population has no water supply and the reservoirs are literally leaking like sieves.
However, the pointing of blame, by MLAs and politicians, at NI Water, should ring hollow in the context of an Executive commitment to continue water under-investment for years to come.
The draft NI budget, announced just over a week ago, made a commitment not to introduce water charges for four years. This commitment comes at a time when the Executive has been moaning about central government cuts to the NI infrastructure budget.
The Executive could easily have committed to investment in water infrastructure by agreeing to a modest water rate. Instead it chose to turn a blind eye – in a matter typical of an Executive that considers populism more important than anything else.
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“in a matter typical of an Executive that considers
populism more important than anything else.” Could not agree more
on this point. Was actually looking forward to reading your
thoughts on the NI MP’s decision to vote against the university fee
reforms as an entirely populist move.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-11964363
I agree with you Jeff in part, the Executive has sherked
its responsibilities and should have begun phasing in water charges
by now but that dosn’t quite explain the complacency in NI Water.
Their executives continue with their holidays feeling unaccountable
and will no doubt blame uninvestment. But like the public transport
system they need shaken up and made competitive. NI Electricity are
only beginning to waken up with the arrival of Airtricity. I
remember working for BT before it was privatised, the complacency
was tangible everywhere. People were lucky to get calls answered
and it was treated as a luxury if you got a line installed within a
few weeks. They would be out of business if they tried that now.
Its more than change at Stormont that’s needed.
Richard – I totally agree. There is no doubt sheer bloody incompetence is at play too – and a big dose of privatisation is needed.