Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her response. I accept the point that the Minister has no direct responsibility for monitoring water quality, but he could pick up the telephone and talk to the head of Irish Water, highlight the press coverage of such instances that have occurred on a regular basis and ask the question I am asking today: why are we waiting so long for basic infrastructure to be put in place? As I mentioned, 75% of the waste flushed down toilets in Rush goes directly out to sea untreated. Rush is not a small town; it has a population of more than 10,000. In certain parts of the United State it would be considered to be a city. We have to invest money in infrastructural projects that would make a significant difference. I was elected to this House 12 years ago and for all of that period this has been an issue.

No priority has been given to providing a basic element of societal infrastructure such as a reasonable waste water facility.

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