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

The Tánaiste is now talking about the number of houses being built in rural Ireland. The Government is allowing raw sewage from Askeaton to go into the River Shannon, from Dromcolliher into the River Deel and from Kilbeheny into the River Funshion. It is the biggest polluter environmentally in Ireland. It fines farmers, businesses and householders for any small pollution, but it is the biggest polluter because it has not upgraded these sewerage systems for 40 years.

The Tánaiste can talk about where the Government is building. The Land Development Agency, LDA, which has an office 15 minutes from Limerick city, does not cover up to two thirds of County Limerick. These infrastructure projects have been on Governments' table for up to 40 years and the Government is allowing raw sewage to go into the waterways of Ireland. It is the biggest polluter in Ireland. We might have good employment at the moment, but we cannot have raw sewage going into the waterways and affecting people's health. We cannot increase the population of our towns and villages because of the raw sewage. The statistics and all the other information are there. I ask the Tánaiste to stay on Limerick when he responds.

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