Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Unfortunately, that is the exact stock answer I have come to expect. This is a pressing health and environmental issue. Raw sewage and poorly treated wastewater impact on local ecology and has public health implications. Wastewater in Kinsale and Clonakilty, two of Ireland's major tourist destinations, has failed to meet EU treatment standards and raw sewage is being discharged into picturesque Castletownsend.

These areas need Government investment, rather than the Minister of State passing the buck to Irish Water. The Government needs to provide the investment and then meet with Irish Water management to ensure that the projects are prioritised. The EPA report clearly warns that, at current rates, we are still decades away from resolving this issue. The problem is even more nuanced as the new plant in Castletownbere, similar to ones in Kinsale and Belgooly, regularly have malodours coming from it. Castletownbere is being held as an example of success in this report and by Irish Water in the media afterwards, when it is awful for locals. This gives an example of where we are at.

Related to this are the exorbitant connection costs. At-standard cost for a single household is almost €2,300. It is even more depending on the length of the connection and SMEs can pay multiples of that. It is just nonsensical to spend millions on a treatment plant and then have families be unable to afford to connect to it. That comes down to funding and not Irish Water.

The least we should be able to expect from the State is a safe and dependable water system that can guarantee safe drinking water and a healthy environment. That should be a Government priority and not an issue to just pass on to Irish Water. Communities throughout Cork South-West and the country need investment. It is up to the Government to provide that.

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