David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)

I spoke to a developer from Waterford in advance of this debate. He is building a number of housing estates in Waterford. I am sure the Minister of State will be familiar with many of the projects. This developer mentioned to me some time ago the issues he has with ESB and Irish Water, in particular with regard to Irish Water. He was of the view that these issues are impacting on his company's ability to deliver housing on time. He talked about not getting definite answers and issues with advance meetings regarding planning applications and even buying land. As Deputy Ó Broin said, this is an experience that local authorities have as well. It is not only private developers who are saying this. We have heard this from the Construction Industry Federation, CIF, in the past. Local authorities have pointed out time and again that issues with Irish Water are impeding the State's ability to deliver housing. That needs to be dealt with.

I will raise two other issues with regard to Irish Water in our constituency. The Minister of State will be familiar with issues in Lismore in County Waterford. I attended a protest at which hundreds of residents gathered in Lismore a number of weeks ago. Things have improved and there is now at least a dialogue and information is being given to residents there. I met the residents with Deputy Conor McGuinness and Councillor Donnchadh Mulcahy. We also met representatives from crèches, community groups and so on. As the Minister of State knows, there is a need for an additional reservoir in Lismore, which needs to be funded. The infrastructure is also archaic.

I also raise with the Minister of State an issue in Bunmahon, which I have been dealing with for five years. We were promised a scoping report into Bunmahon wastewater treatment. Bunmahon is due for an assessment via the south-eastern strategic modelling study. I have been told this will take until 2027. One of our councillors on the ground, Councillor Catherine Burke, has been working on this issue and raising questions with Irish Water. It should not take until 2027 just to do a study when there are very real concerns with regard to the discharge of water in Bunmahon. I wanted to raise those local issues as well.

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