Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy's interest in this matter is very clear. His desire to address issues in his area on behalf of his constituents is commendable and is noted.

As I said, our water and wastewater infrastructure requires substantial and sustained investment over a number of investment cycles to bring the systems up to the standard required of a modern service, to provide for population growth and to build resilience in the face of climate change, as the Deputy identified in respect of Sandymount Strand. To address these challenges, the Government has outlined key strategic investment priorities for public water and wastewater capacity through the national development plan. These include the water supply project I described, which will provide essential capacity to support the water supply needs of up to 50% of our population. Similarly, the greater Dublin drainage project will protect public health, safeguard our environment and facilitate growth in the greater Dublin area to 2050.

Currently, 40% of the nation's wastewater is treated, as the Deputy said, at Ringsend. This over-reliance on one location is not sustainable and is a barrier to the delivery of housing and economic development, not only in Dublin but in counties Kildare and Meath. More locally, the north city arterial main project will see the significant replacement and installation of a strategic trunk main in the northern area of Dublin city and neighbouring Fingal. The new infrastructure will reduce the risk of interruption to an estimated 29,000 properties.

It is also very clear from the programme for Government, which the Deputy will be familiar with, and the Taoiseach and Tánaiste have made it clear, that now is the time for action. The Government plan over the next five years is to move from a phase of strategy and planning to implementation and action. There is a very significant focus on that at Government level. It is now time for all Departments and agencies to move because we have reached a point where the lack of infrastructure in particular areas is having a drag on economic growth and putting sustained pressure on housing output, which is a very important issue on the minds of most in the House and certainly outside it.

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