Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy and I will certainly bring his concerns back to the Minister, who has overall responsibility in these challenges. As the Deputy knows, the programme for Government is committed to funding Uisce Éireann's capital investment plan for water and wastewater infrastructure on a multi-annual basis. There will be record levels of investment in water services by Uisce Éireann in the period 2021 to 2025, with a commitment of almost €6 billion in capital investment, of which more than €4.5 billion would be Voted Exchequer funding for domestic water services.

Indeed the Deputy has acknowledged the fact that work is under way on the substantial upgrade of the Macroom wastewater treatment plant, worth in excess of €21 million, and in the long term this should resolve the issues. I know the Deputy is more concerned with the short-term issues at the moment, the fact there is pollution and that he has genuine concerns. I will certainly relay those back to the Minister.

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