Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am not asking the Minister of State for a commitment as to what sites will be chosen in the future. I suppose a site on the verge of the lower River Shannon SAC that does not have any sewage treatment infrastructure speaks for itself. A settlement of the size of Doolin in the summer when it is full of tourists - long may that continue - without any sewage treatment infrastructure also speaks for itself.

What I ask is what mechanisms will be put in place to ensure that they can progress because there is a chicken and egg scenario that affected Carrigaholt. There is not a site. There is some local authority owned land in Carrigaholt but it is relatively near a relatively small local authority sewage treatment plant. However, that site is potentially suitable for development for housing and the local authority wants to retain it for that purpose. Then there is no site in the ownership of Clare County Council currently on which could be located the sewage treatment plant. Clare County Council cannot buy because there is no fund under which it can buy. It has been told that wastewater is not its area, it is Irish Water's. There is a real problem that the Minister of State can appreciate.

Carrigaholt is a progressive community with a lot of good ideas around sustainable development. There is a big caravan park in Carrigaholt. There is capacity for a lot more. Carrigaholt was a much more important settlement 100 years ago relative to the time than arguably it is now but it has significant capacity.

The Minister of State mentioned the Irish college. If Deputy O'Donnell is passing by there again, I suggest he look at the Irish college. Unfortunately, it is closed. That is something that could be developed to bring life and economic activity into this beautiful part of Clare, and one with significant capacity.

The same is true of settlements right along the coastline. I mentioned Doolin, but it true of the whole country. As I said, €50 million, if the Minister of State will pardon the pun, is a drop in the ocean. We need to address this when there is money in the State for infrastructure because there will not always be money in the State, as I fear the Minister of State knows.

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