Dr. Seán Ó hÓgáin:

Yes but one can do more than that. One can segment it up to 300, 400, 500 and 600. It is ideal for the smaller ones. It is a liner. We hope we got the message across in both projects that upskilling unemployed building workers around the country would make them able to install these low-tech applications such as rainwater harvesting, reed beds and willow beds. It is not rocket science. It does involve a bit of vocational training. It is not just a case of fit and forget. There is a bit of maintenance involved but it could be a vehicle to regenerate some local employment in the Gaeltacht and rural areas.

My opinion on combined sewers is that it would be very difficult to do anything about them in urban areas. This is why what is happening in Philadelphia is exciting because they are capturing the water before it gets into the combined sewers.