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

It is a bit surprising that no Minister from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government is available. I thought we had a Brexit crisis, but seeing the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, here, I wonder where the Government's priorities are.

Anyway I return to my own issue of importance. I am grateful for the opportunity to raise this Topical Issue matter. When I was elected to this House in 2016, on top of the dilemma of a Government being formed, the first thing Oireachtas Members did was to create a committee to investigate policies and articulate ways of going forward in the development of housing.

I live outside Mitchelstown, which is a planned historic town. It is ideally located just off the M7, the Dublin to Cork motorway. It also filters traffic on to Mallow and Killarney via the N73. The other place we are discussing today is Glanworth, which is also a renowned historic village. It is also within commuting distance of Cork city. Employment is being created in the area and, as I said, both are close to Cork city and Fermoy so it is a good location for people to live and rear families.

We have a major problem. The provision of housing has been an area of contention for the Government. It has launched programme after programme to get construction under way.

The elephant in the room, which is a big issue in north County Cork, is Irish Water. Over two years or more there have been many planning applications, some granted and some pending, but none of them can end up giving the key to the owner of the house because we have a major problem. The wastewater treatment plants in Mitchelstown and Glanworth are closed to the granting of licences for new applications. It is causing a major hindrance and is affecting the development of these two tremendous locations in north County Cork. It is a disgrace. Irish Water gave commitments that it was about to do up these plants.

The local authority has granted one developer planning permission, and although he can proceed the stage of having the houses ready, he cannot connect to the sewer until Irish water has its projects completed. How on earth can any small-time developer build houses and not be sure when he will be able to hand over the keys for these properties? Many of those involved can be on bridging loans attracting higher interest rates and it is unfair. It is creating problems in Mitchelstown in particular. We have seen some growth in employment with people seeking accommodation to rent or buy. It is hindering the growth of Mitchelstown.

I do not know what the Minister of State will tell me, but I hope she can provide some clarity as to when Irish Water can give a timeframe for the works to commence. Even the planning authority is weary of Irish Water's letters of comfort at the moment. There are a couple of cases at the moment where the local authority will not even acknowledge the planning applications because it is not too sure if Irish Water will go ahead.

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