Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Irish Water has had quite a lot of issues. Deputy McGrath mentioned Cork County Council workers and employees who are having their rights completely changed. Perhaps they have worked their whole lives for Cork County Council, having initially agreed their terms and conditions, and now they are changing. It is a huge issue for a lot of people. It is raised with me quite often in west Cork. People need to step back and look at the rights of the employees.

We also have a massive crisis in Clonakilty in west Cork where there is little or no water. Many people are blaming climate change but it is not climate change. It is common sense. Clonakilty has developed. It has been a great developing town for the past 20 years or more. It is now at a complete standstill. There will be no further development until the water issue is resolved in Clonakilty. Imagine this. The Government is lying idly by while the scheme develops at a snail's pace. Anyone saying it is climate change is blinding us. It is actually development and there is employment. This is good and this is positive news. There is great demand for housing in Clonakilty. Areas of Clonakilty such as Clogheen, Lady's Cross, the bypass road, The Miles, Tawnies Lower, Barrack Hill and Scartagh are badly affected and have been terribly affected in recent months. Roscarbery is on the Clonakilty scheme, as are other areas including Caherbeg and Reanascreena South. I cannot understand it. We had a problem in Schull. We had holding tanks. We put in tanks for holding water when there was a crisis. What is the progress on the Clonakilty water scheme? We need to know it right here right now for the greater development of the Clonakilty area.

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