Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We welcome the summer economic statement by the Minister for Finance, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, and we note the change in the funding strategy for Irish Water. I have raised this issue before. Could Irish Water be asked to update its strategy for the upgrade and development of wastewater treatment facilities in Mitchelstown and Churchtown where a nursing home development has been put on hold because of the upgrade of the sewerage facilities? Mitchelstown has not had any new housing built in recent years because Irish Water has stalled all plans for housing development. I ask the Minister and the Taoiseach to intercede. It is a disgrace. Mitchelstown is the economic corridor to the south east. People travelling from Dublin to Killarney or Mallow must pass through Mitchelstown. We cannot build one-off housing in the town because of Irish Water. I contacted the Minister and the Taoiseach previously about the need to upgrade wastewater treatment facilities in Mitchelstown. The facility in Churchtown also needs to be upgraded.

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