Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)

I want to raise the village of Inistioge in County Kilkenny. I am not sure if the Minister is familiar with it. It is the most picturesque village in Kilkenny, if not in the country. It is home to the great Eddie Keher, one of the greatest hurlers of all time, it is home to the fantastic Woodstock gardens and arboretum, a national treasure and a gem in the south east, and it has hosted numerous films down through the years, such as "Circle of Friends", to name just one. However, that village is being strangled at the moment because there is a lack of infrastructure there, and there is a huge issue regarding the wastewater treatment plant, which absolutely needs to be upgraded. It has been on the Irish Water and Kilkenny County Council list for the past number of years. It has been ranked second but demoted to fourth and to fifth. In order for this village to grow and in order to help the schools, the GAA clubs, the pubs and the shops, we need this wastewater treatment upgraded. I implore the Minister to do everything he can to get this treatment plant upgraded as soon as possible and as a massive priority for this Government.

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