Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response. I have seen first-hand the difference the investment in Uisce Éireann and in water services has made in many towns in my constituency, such as Castletownbere, which has a brand-new wastewater treatment plant. Others include Courtmacsherry and Timoleague; the state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant in Castletownshend near Skibbereen has just been finished. I have seen villages and towns get wastewater infrastructure they never had before. In fairness to the Minister, he came through on a promise to introduce a scheme in which local authorities could apply for funding to improve wastewater infrastructure. There was the developer-led aspect when estates were without infrastructure and when small villages aspect did not have adequate infrastructure, he invited local authorities to apply. I therefore cannot get my head around the fact that Cork County Council has not applied for funding to improve the wastewater treatment facilities at Shannonvale, which the Minister stood on with me, where excrement is coming up through the surface of children's playground. It is an absolute disgrace. I plead with the Minister to reach out to the local authority and find a solution as fast as possible.

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