Joe Cooney (Clare, Fine Gael)
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It is something that needs to be reviewed, especially in rural parts. Uisce Éireann needs to work with the developers. If it is done to Uisce Éireann's criteria and the proper standard, Uisce Éireann should be told that it has to take it over, end of story, and maintain it going forward. That could be a brilliant idea.

Regarding costs and workers, local authorities are finding it hard to get building contractors because of the amount of work out there at the moment. The other big issue has to do with skilled workers and apprenticeships. That needs to be reviewed to see how we can get more young people to take up apprenticeships and get qualified as skilled workers. There would then be workers for developers and building contractors. In Clare, the local authority finds it very hard to even get contractors to tender to renovate some of these old houses as well as some local authority houses that are in a bad condition. What are Mr. Taaffe's views on apprenticeships and how we can get young people to take up trades?