Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I stated in my opening remarks, Irish Water's primary function is to provide clean safe drinking water to customers and to treat, collect and return wastewater safely to the environment. In providing these critical services Irish Water plays a role enabling social and economic growth. It faces a great challenge because more than 1 billion litres of wastewater from homes and businesses are collected every day in Ireland's public sewers and treated in 1,100 different treatment plants across our system. As I pointed out, the capital investment programme is significant but the scale of the problem in the country is also quite significant. I commit to go back to Irish Water about the two areas mentioned. It is examining what remedial capital maintenance works in Shannonvale can be carried out in advance of the capital programme. Belgooly is a significant issue for the residents of Riverbank and is serious, as the Deputy has noted that effluent is possibly being discharged into the estuary. The Deputy has made a strong case about both matters and I will bring it to Irish Water but I must also be clear that there are quite a number of competing issues for Irish Water's capital investment programme. There are problems across the country and they must be assessed independently by Irish Water. Those in most need must be catered for first. I will do my best to bring something back.

See this speech in context