Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I know the request is to come from Kerry County Council but I know how this works. The local authority will not request funding unless it is assured it will get it because it does not want to embarrass the Government. The Government has to give it the indication that the money will be forthcoming.

We appreciate everything that has been done but it is time to move on. The Minister mentioned that other solutions would be provided when the distance is too great but the distance is not too great in this case. The big work has been done bringing the pipe north of the N22, which was vital. I commend John Donovan for doing this at his own expense. At that time, we sought help from the local authority but we did not get it. We are where we are. The residents paid money for their houses. They did not know there was any problem. They paid whatever charges the developer included at that time and they want this problem resolved. Perhaps some of them want to sell but are tied up in a knot with this. Other people will not move in until this matter is resolved.

There are odours at times and officials from the environment section have been out. The residents are worried and it is time to resolve this issue. I appeal to the Government. I am glad that so much will be given but we still need the money. The Minister of State wonders why the cost is going up. It is going up because the distance has increased. Instead of getting way leave from private property, which was not forthcoming, they had to go around the longer way. I can understand why people would not want a public sewer by the side of their houses. Surely the Government can understand that as well. It will cost more because of that and because building costs have increased in recent times with the cost of materials and labour. I appeal to the Government to address this and work with Kerry County Council.

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