Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. Chuir mé an cheist i nGaeilge freisin. Níl mé ag cur locht ar an Aire Stáit ach b'fhéidir go mbeidh an freagra ón Roinn i mBéarla agus i nGaeilge uair éigin. Maidir leis an gceist, is é an t-aon rud atá suimiúil domsa anseo ná go bhfuil Uisce Éireann i mbun athbhreithnithe ar an gcinneadh atá déanta ag An mBord Pleanála. Of interest to me, other than the background with Irish Water, of which I am fully aware, and the history, which I do not need, is that Irish Water is "currently reviewing this decision" by An Bord Pleanála to grant permission for something else. Irish Water was fully aware of this and was considering a compulsory purchase order for this site for a very long time. It was conveyed to Irish Water over and over again that there would be no co-operation because the owner had other plans for that site. I pass no comment on those plans but this has not come as a surprise to Irish Water. It knew it was under appeal to An Bord Pleanála and it knew well that it was not a suitable site.

There is a serious question here for the Government. I know it is Irish Water's responsibility. I never agreed with Irish Water happening in the first place, but that is what happened. We cannot stand over a situation where raw sewage is pouring into the bay in the middle of Conamara, i gcroílár na Gaeltachta, when there is a suitable site. We knew there was a site all along. I cannot tell the Minister of State how many meetings I and other Deputies and councillors from the area attended over the last while. We tried to say that while we were not experts, there was another site worth looking at that was in the ownership of a State agency. Irish Water told us it was too costly but nobody has added up the cost of not dealing with the raw sewage going into the water. When we look at costs in a very restricted way, it is stupid in the extreme and here we are. There is a site available. As I said, I am no expert but anyone down there will tell you that the site owned by Údarás na Gaeltachta in Ros an Mhíl is far more suitable and was always thus.

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