Claims that a contaminated water scheme would be supplying the new EU Food and Veterinary Agency in Meath have been firmly rejected by the OPW and the Kiltale Group Water Scheme.
Mr John Cushnahan, Fine Gael MEP, had claimed that tests of drinking water destined for the new headquarters near Grange showed evidence of animal-waste contamination.
However, Mr John Doyle, chairman of the Kiltale scheme, said the Environmental Protection Agency's drinking water reports for 1997 and 1999 confirmed that no faecal coliforms were found. The OPW also pointed out that tests taken during 2000 showed no evidence of pollution.
An earlier EPA report on group water schemes did, however, show contamination problems in the area in the mid1990s. The Kiltale scheme has been operating from a new well since then and a third well is being constructed.
The group water scheme is expected to have a new water treatment plant completed within the next few months. The OPW is also providing an independent water-treatment plant on the EU site as an extra safeguard.
Mr Doyle said that any tests taken to date "most definitely" could not be related to the quality of water being supplied to the new Commission office, as the treatment plant had not yet been installed.
Mr Cushnahan said he would be tabling a parliamentary question because of the conflicting evidence from the EU and the group water scheme. He said he had supplied a 40-page dossier on the issue to the EU's environmental directorate and was awaiting a response.
