PJ Murphy (Fine Gael)

We are on the same page. I fully agree with the Minister about oversight from Uisce Éireann. A specification would have to be provided by Uisce Éireann. The plant on completion would have to be taken in charge by Uisce Éireann.

It is very important that whatever specification is provided by Uisce Éireann would be financially viable for the developer. My fear is that what we develop would be a programme by which Uisce Éireann or the environmental authority would put in place such criteria that it still would not actually be viable for a developer to put a plant in place. That is something we very much have to bear in mind in this regard.

We also have to bear in mind that there are lot of different types of landscapes around the country. Coming from a karst limestone landscape myself in the Burren lowlands, I would very much be of the fear that before any outflow water from a treatment plant could be released into the environment it could require very costly treatment. There would have to be a level playing field created in terms of cost for the developer. If we are to rely on Irish Water-Uisce Éireann to service all of these unserviced settlements, we will be looking, at the current rate of progress, 50-plus years before the 500-plus unserviced settlements in the country are serviced. That certainly is not an option. With the right planning - and I know the Minister has the task force in place - the package plants, developer-led, can be a solution to this.