Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, published a report which found that only half of our sewage is being treated to EU standards and that over 2.5 million tonnes of raw sewage in 32 of our towns and villages is being pumped into our seas and rivers every year. Eight of those are in my home country. In 2015 I submitted a complaint to the European Commission about the State's failure to deliver a sewerage scheme of my on home town of Gweedore. The Commission took infringing proceedings against the State as a result. Seven years later, after many missed and changed deadlines, the main scheme has not started with the only demonstration scheme now being completed. Many of the areas that have been outlined in the EPA report will not be connected to treatment plants until the second half of the decade, with raw sewage continuing to be pumped into our seas and rivers. We need action to get to grips with these failures. What assurances can the Minister give these communities that this will be addressed and in a timely manner and that the deadlines that are set down which are more than often extended or missed by Irish Water will not be missed?

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