Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy certainly has my commitment in that regard. He is absolutely correct that it is frustrating, particularly in the depths of a pandemic, that people would have to accept what he outlined. One of the basic components of the sustainable development goals relates to clean water and sanitation, and it is a basic necessity that we provide that.

Irish Water's primary functions are to provide clean and safe drinking water for customers, to treat wastewater and to return water safely to the environment. In providing these critical services, Irish Water plays a role in enabling social and economic development and protecting the environment and the health and safety of the public. Irish Water, as a single national utility, is taking a strategic and nationwide approach to asset planning and investment and meeting customer requirements.

Our entire water system needs substantial and sustained investment over a number of investment cycles to fully improve performance and resilience. Investment will also be needed to deliver new water capacity for our growing population to deal with the increased impacts of climate change and to address our biodiversity crisis. Prioritising the order of this work and the associated investment will need ongoing engagement with Irish Water and its regulators, the EPA and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities.

I reiterate my commitment to the Deputy that we will continue to follow up on and monitor the issue he raised until it is resolved.

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