Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. McGrath for that clarification in terms of the six-year period. He is right; it is too long, even at six years. That said, and the fact that there is no possibility of providing a timeframe at this juncture, I am conscious that this issue could rumble on for another year for more. Is there any option of even a partial takeover of other services in the interim while the DPI issue is resolved? I am not sure if Mr. McGrath can elaborate on that.

On the cost to Tipperary County Council in terms of hours associated with this issue, be it on-site or the need to engage with Irish Water or the EPA. I imagine the cost to the council on this site - Mr. McGrath mentioned that there are 25 such sites in total - is costing Tipperary County Council quite a bit of time and money. I also imagine that it is a distraction in the context of the other work the council needs to be doing vis-à-vishousing, etc. In the absence of a timeframe, we could easily be here in six or 12 months' time and the matter would not have progressed any further. I acknowledge Mr. McGrath's comprehensive and transparent statement and his willingness and eagerness to resolve the issue. I commend Mr. Coskeran's patience in trying to navigate the quagmire that seems to be in existence between local government, Irish Water and the EPA. Mr. McGrath might come back on those points and then I will let Deputy Buckley back in.