Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

When the Government set up Irish Water, it did so with the rationale that it was needed so that it could borrow off balance sheet to make the necessary investment in its water infrastructure. That clearly has not happened. Irish Water is charging punitive connection charges and is not providing a service. What is the role of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government regarding the prioritisation of water schemes? Athlone in County Westmeath has been told it will be three years before a much-needed upgrade will happen despite the fact that water is being turned off two or three nights per week because the treatment plant simply does not have the capacity to deal with the demands placed on it. What role has the Department with regard to the prioritisation of schemes? Will the Tánaiste refer this to the relevant Minister, who can revert to me to see whether we can accelerate this scheme?

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