Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)

I spoke earlier about the major crisis in our public infrastructure that is clearly delaying progress on the construction of housing and, indeed, delaying progress towards meeting our climate targets. In particular, I speak about difficulties with energy and water infrastructure. I want to focus on water infrastructure because just at the end of May, the Government was warned by Uisce Éireann that house building in Dublin would stall within three years if the greater Dublin drainage project does not progress. Of course, this project was first proposed more than 20 years ago and was granted planning permission in 2019. This was quashed by the High Court. It is now back with An Bórd Pleanála for the past 11 months. This is putting increased pressure on the Ringsend wastewater plant. It is likely to lead to more discharges of untreated water in Dublin Bay. We know there are already real difficulties with water quality, particularly at Sandymount Strand.

What will be done at the highest level to ensure this treatment plant will be delivered on time? The Taoiseach may know I brought forward a Dublin Bay Bill some years ago, seeking a stronger, statutory framework to protect biodiversity and our beautiful bay area. Meanwhile, untreated water is flooding out to sea and Uisce Éireann has warned there are currently two options, given the long delays on the wastewater project. Either it stops new connections, which has a huge, knock on effect on stalling house building in Dublin, or it ignores the discharge licence requirement at Ringsend and risk more frequent spills of unfiltered water into the Irish Sea. This is a terrible prospect. The knock on effect for housing and climate is huge. There is no sense of urgency from Government on it. What is the contingency plan here?

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