Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. To be clear, the message from both the EPA and the HSE is not to drink discoloured water, and to report it to the EPA. I take on board the Deputy's feedback that the EPA and the HSE are not doing enough in that regard, and not doing enough to interact with the public in that regard too. I will absolutely pass that on to the Minister, Deputy Browne, and ask him to act on that.

Our water and wastewater infrastructure requires substantial and sustained investment. That is clear. It requires it over a number of investment cycles to bring the systems up to the standards required of a modern service, to provide for population growth, to build resilience in the face of climate change and to make sure the Deputy's constituents have access from their taps to water they can drink.

Uisce Éireann's capital investment plan for water and wastewater infrastructure is funded on a multiannual basis. There will be record levels of investment in water services by Uisce Éireann in the period 2021 until now, with commitments of over €6 billion in capital investment, of which over €4.5 billion will be voted Exchequer funding for domestic water services for the domestic customers the Deputy is speaking about today. This commitment is reflected in budget 2025, with the Department securing record funding of over €2.7 billion for Uisce Éireann to meet the cost of delivering water services this year. This overall investment will deliver significant improvements in public water and wastewater services across Ireland, including in Cork. It will support improved water supplies in rural Ireland too, and a range of programmes delivering improved water quality in our rivers, lakes and marine areas.

I take on board the valid concerns the Deputy is raising on behalf of his constituents. I will absolutely pass it on to the Minister, Deputy Browne, and it is really important that the EPA, HSE and Uisce Éireann are engaging with all representatives from Cork as we work through this issue.

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