Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)

I am conscious this is the last day of term. The revised national development plan is going to be published within two weeks. On many occasions, I have drawn the Tánaiste's attention to the lack of infrastructure in Galway and I do so again. This is a major obstacle to development. Galway is one of the cities to be developed in a sustainable way. On the east side of the city, there is no wastewater treatment plant and there are serious problems with the network and infrastructure. For about the tenth time, I mention that one of the two major siphons under the Corrib Estuary which carry all the sewerage and wastewater from the east side of the city out to Mutton Island is in imminent danger of collapse. I raised this matter with the previous Minister of State, Malcolm Noonan, who took a particular interest in it. It was denied that this was the subject of a report to Uisce Éireann. I have rechecked the position. A report was done for Uisce Éireann, and the words used are to the effect that one of the siphons is in imminent danger of collapse. I draw that matter and the lack of infrastructure in Galway to the Tánaiste's attention.

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