Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. What is wrong with Uisce Éireann? The Minister is saying the Government is pouring money in it. Even if it was moving at a snail's pace, some of these towns would have their wastewater treatment plants built, but it is not even moving at that pace. It cannot be money as in some of the towns I mentioned, we have offered co-funding to speed up the process and get the plants built but it makes no difference. For far too long, this Government has pointed the finger of blame at farmers as the culprits for the contamination of our waters. All the powers that be have been watching every move they have made when we now know who the main culprit for contaminating our clean waters, and that is the State through Uisce Éireann, aided and abetted by the EPA.

The Minister said I did not furnish him with the information in advance and I accept that I did not. On behalf of the people of west Cork, I ask him to personally intervene. He said he would speak to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and I appreciate that and anything at all that will help to bring this up along the line. We need to set up a task force to report in six months - not one where the can is kicked down the road and there is no answer. I cannot have parents telling me their children drank raw sewage from these tanks and became seriously ill. We need action in west Cork now and not kick the can down the road.

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