Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

With regard to the water quality report, the people of Kerry, with its connection to the sea and rivers, rely on water for work, food, health and wellbeing. That is why we have been keeping an eye on the EPA reports over recent years.

Water quality can, of course, be impacted by a number of different factors. One statistic in the report that jumped out at us was concerning, namely, that there are two river water bodies in bad condition. There was in a place in County Clare and the Laune in County Kerry, where it says that urban wastewater is a pressure. The Minister of State knows the area well. Does he believe the Killarney sewage treatment plant is fit for purpose, especially during the summer months with all the extra tourists who visit Killarney? The report refers to Lough Leane and that a great deal of damage has been done there. At the moment, the toxic algae bloom signs are up, which is very disappointing in a premier tourist destination like Killarney.

Around the county, it has already been referenced about the lack of wastewater treatment plants in such places as Castlegregory, Abbeydorney and in Fenit where I recently dealt with people living in Lighthouse Village. Even though a system was made by the developer, they cannot connect to the system because two houses cannot be built in Fenit, as there is no system in place. It does not look like one is coming anytime soon. Despite a blaze of publicity a number of years ago which said it was coming, there is nothing happening there yet. Uisce Éireann also needs to carry out assessments around Cromane, in the Magharees, in Tralee Bay, and into the Kenmare River. Closer to home there is the big river which flows right down through the north side of Tralee and goes directly through the centre of the town, and there are septic tanks going into that river. Permission was granted by the local authority. No funding has been allocated towards a river going right through the centre of Tralee town. It is within a few hundred yards of county council buildings. If there was ever a priority, that should be it.

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