Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the programme for Government proposals that we ensure Irish Water prioritises the delivery of the small towns and villages programme. What I am concerned about is that this is not being fed down to Irish Water. Take Aughrim in County Wicklow, for example. No housing developments have been built in more than a decade due to the water plant being at full capacity. Recent correspondence with Irish Water stated clearly that the project is currently not forecasted to progress to construction until 2029. If this is the case, it will have a detrimental effect on the social fabric of the town, leading to no houses for young families and lower school numbers. Sports clubs will struggle and businesses will simply fail. Cases such as Aughrim, Kilanerin and Camolin are being replicated in towns and villages throughout Ireland. I call on Irish Water to urgently look at cases such as Aughrim, and where possible, to upgrade existing facilities or expedite the construction of new plants.

See this speech in context