Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise the issue of continued investment in water services. I acknowledge we are experiencing significant reform, with the aim of better services and promoting wider environmental protection, but there remain significant infrastructure deficits that need to be addressed, even after Uisce Éireann focuses on its capital programme in 2023. One specific project is the Newport sewerage scheme in Clew Bay in west Mayo, which has a timeline that has been pushed out to 2026, resulting in raw sewage being introduced to the waterways around Clew Bay. I appreciate the Government's commitment to high-level investment in this sector but we have timelines that are just unacceptable.

Within the rural water programme, we still await the next publication of the multi-annual rural water scheme. I would appreciate some clarity in this regard. When will it be published? We have various villages in north Mayo, including Srahataggle, Portacloy and Porturlin, to name a few, that are reliant on a new water connection. These households do not have a domestic water supply and when it rains heavily, they have condemned wells, their heating systems do not work and they cannot have showers. It is dreadful that in this day and age they are subjected to these conditions. I ask again about the overall programme for continued investment in water services, especially into the rural water programme. I would appreciate the Taoiseach's feedback on this.

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