Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. This has been a long-standing and long-running project of many years. Since it was originally mooted and given the go-ahead, it has faced many challenges and hurdles. On the broader point, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, has allocated very significant extra funding to Irish Water to provide waste water treatment plants throughout the country. We are very keen on improving the water infrastructure all over the country and, in particular, to get schemes going in Ballina and other areas the Deputy identified. We will follow through on particular projects, some of which the Deputy has identified, with the Minister. On the bigger project, my understanding is Irish Water is engaging with the landowners, or will be, so we will see how that unfolds.

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