Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The chief executive officer of Irish Water, Mr. Niall Gleeson, has said that since 2014 Irish Water has built new wastewater infrastructure for 16 towns and villages throughout the country, ending the discharge of raw sewage into rivers, lakes and seas. Where is Limerick? Oola has been waiting for an upgrade for 20 years; Hospital has been waiting for an upgrade for 20 years; Dromcolliher has been waiting 20 years; and there are also Glin, Foynes and Shanagolden. People were in Foynes during the week looking at what projects would be done there. There is raw sewage going into the River Shannon. The Government has never invested in infrastructure. We cannot build a house without infrastructure. Does the Government not get it? This and previous Governments have never invested in infrastructure. This is why we have a housing problem. Houses cannot be built because there is no infrastructure. Raw sewage is going into the rivers and seas all around Ireland. This is a problem. It is estimated that €11 billion will be the funding requirement for 2024, made up of €6.1 billion investment in infrastructure and a €4.9 billion investment in operating costs. Now the Government wants those people who know the bad water system we have at present and who work for the council to swap over to Irish Water. Even though the system is broken, everybody in the council knows how to fix it and the Government wants them to swap over to Irish Water. They should be left to finish out their term with the councils where they started. Stop using bully tactics to make them swap over.

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