Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State, Deputy English, for staying on for the debate. He has had a busy evening answering Other Questions. The Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, is excused this time. I raise an issue for towns in west Cork, in particular Castletownbere and Castletownshend, where up to two thirds of the raw sewage they produce is being pumped directly into our harbours. Irish Water has recently received substantial fines for this but, strangely, the company has been allowed a grace period of two years to complete the work necessary to alleviate the problem. This is completely unacceptable and it must be addressed immediately. Two years is far too long a timeframe. I may be biased, but I am firmly of the belief that I represent the most beautiful and picturesque constituency in the whole of Ireland. It is a constituency which relies heavily on tourism and fishing. I am not sure whether the Minister of State has ever visited, but I invite him to come down over the summer when I will personally take him on a tour of the beauty spots.

The Minister of State will be aware of the report in The Irish Timeson 8 May last on two locations in west Cork, namely Castletownbere, which has a population of 1,300, and Castletownshend, which has a population of 450. In these towns, raw sewage is being pumped unashamedly into their harbours on a daily basis. In 2018, this is totally unacceptable. While Irish Water was to build a water treatment plant for Castletownbere, I understand that this will not now be completed until 2021. There were no previous plans for a similar water treatment plant in Castletownshend, but there is now an agreement to provide one by 2021. In the meantime, a culvert on the beach carries sewage directly into the sea. Following a prosecution for failing to carry out improvements at the respective harbours, Irish Water has received a mere slap on the wrist in the form of a fine. These are two of the most picturesque locations in west Cork and they rely heavily on tourism. The areas are becoming increasingly popular, in part due to their beautiful beaches. I vouch personally for their beauty and would give anything to be there this evening. To make matters worse, oysters from the harbour, which may be eaten raw in normal course, must be treated before consumption. This adds to the work and decreases the profits of those involved in the industry.

That the breach of waste water regulations is being tolerated in any circumstance is alarming, but Irish Water is being granted a so-called "grace period" of two years, which is another matter. It is unacceptable. Environmental protection figures advise that between 2000 and 2010, €270 million was invested annually in waste water infrastructure.

Between 2011 and 2013 there was a drop of 50% in investment. Although between 2014 and 2015 Irish Water increased the investment in wastewater infrastructure by 22% to €166 million, this was substantially lower than the levels under a Fianna Fáil Government. From 2016 to 2021, the remaining period of Irish Water's business plan, it is ramping up investment to spend an average of €326 million per year on wastewater infrastructure.

This investment must be followed through as a matter of priority and I urge that places such as Castletownbere and Castletownshend be dealt with. Other areas such as Rossmore and Shannonvale in the Clonakilty area, along with many other areas, must also be considered with regard to either providing a new wastewater plant or improving existing ones. I will contact the Minister on another occasion about those areas.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Murphy O'Mahony for raising this issue. I am familiar with the area of west Cork and have spent time there over the years, but after the Deputy's portrayal I will have to return to visit it again. The Deputy could have a job in the tourism sector as well, aside from being a Teachta Dála.

However, she has raised an important issue and I thank her for providing me with the opportunity to outline the issues surrounding the matter of raw sewage being pumped into the harbour at Castletownbere and Castletownshend by Irish Water. The urban wastewater treatment directive mandates member states to collect and treat urban wastewater in towns and cities to protect public health and avoid pollution of rivers, lakes and coastal waters. Member states had until the end of 2000 to ensure appropriate treatment for large areas of population above 15,000 and until the end of December 2005 for areas with a population above 2,000 which discharge to freshwaters and estuaries.

Since 1 January 2014 Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local level. Irish Water as a single national public utility is taking a strategic, nationwide approach to asset planning and investment, and meeting customer requirements. Irish Water is undertaking significant investment in urban wastewater collection and treatment over the period to 2021 and plans to deliver 255 wastewater treatment projects in urban areas, achieving water quality improvements and compliance with the requirements of the urban wastewater treatment directive. The details of these works are set out in the river basin management plan for Ireland for 2018 to 2021, which the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, published on 17 April 2018. The priority objective for this river basin planning cycle is to secure compliance with the urban wastewater treatment directive and to contribute to the improvement and protection of waters in keeping with the water quality objectives established in the plan.

Castletownbere and Castletownshend are among 38 towns and villages nationwide where untreated sewage is currently discharged to receiving waters, either directly from sewer network outfalls or via septic holding tanks where the level of treatment provided is inadequate. In 2015, Irish Water confirmed that additional wastewater treatment will be provided at five locations in Cork, including Castletownbere and Castletownshend. Both of these urban areas have been identified in the river basin management plan as areas where works will be undertaken during the period of the plan. I am informed by Irish Water that the Castletownbere sewerage scheme will end the discharge of untreated wastewater into Bantry Bay. Irish Water's plan includes the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant as well as the associated sewer network and infrastructure. I am also informed that Irish Water will submit its planning application to Cork County Council later this year. Subject to statutory approvals, construction work on this project will commence in 2020 and be completed in 2021. Irish Water undertook a public information evening recently in Castletownbere on this project.

The Castletownshend sewerage scheme is needed to stop untreated wastewater being discharged directly into Castlehaven harbour. I am informed that Irish Water will submit its planning application to Cork County Council this year or early in 2019. Subject to statutory approvals, construction work on this necessary project will also commence in 2020 and be completed in 2021.

I am sure Irish Water will do this as quickly as it can but, as the Deputy knows, projects such as these must go through the planning system and public consultation. Irish Water is doing that. These projects were needed many years ago and should have been provided long before now, including by other Governments. However, Irish Water is taking action now and is going through the proper channels to do it. Money has been allocated, planning permission will be required and work will commence in 2020. It is important that will happen. I am glad we are ensuring these 38 areas of high priority are being rectified, and rightly so.

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for the information on Irish Water. I am glad he admitted that there are inadequate services in parts of west Cork. I am also glad they are part of the plan for the future. The Minister of State said that other Governments could be to blame as well, but we are where we are, as the saying goes. I am one for looking forward rather than looking back. I realise the projects must go through the planning process but I ask the Minister to push these plans forward. It is not fair on the local people to have to live in substandard situations such as this.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I agree with the Deputy about looking forward. However, I did not raise the issue. It was the Deputy who raised the issue of previous Governments, and I wished to clarify that we are taking action now. This matter must be addressed: it is as simple as that. It is not good enough that this still happens in 38 areas in Ireland. Irish Water was established to fix that and it is fixing it. The money has been set aside for this, but it must go through the proper planning process and get community acceptance. Given the urgency of these projects I have no doubt that community acceptance will be easier to achieve than on other projects, but Irish Water must go through that. That is democracy and the right way to do it.

Naturally, Irish Water will try to progress through the planning process as quickly as it can. It has been asked to do that by the local authorities and by the Government. The primary function of Irish Water is to provide clean, safe drinking water to its customers and to treat and return wastewater safely to the environment. That is not happening in this case and that is why action is required. In providing these critical services Irish Water plays a role in enabling social and economic growth and in protecting the environment and the health and safety of the public. Irish Water has developed a long-term investment perspective to address strategically the deficiencies in the public wastewater system. It is optimising investment decisions to ensure that it utilises scarce capital by making investments that deliver the best possible improvements for communities.

Building water treatment plants and upgrading or building sewerage networks necessarily will require significant investment. Irish Water's capital investment plans for 2014 to 2021 have identified an investment of over €5.5 billion. Some €1.25 billion of this investment will be in improving wastewater infrastructure quality overall, including the required investment in the Castletownbere and Castletownshend schemes. Completion of these projects will mark a hugely important milestone in protecting the environment in both locations, particularly the quality of water in Bantry Bay and Castlehaven harbour. I look forward to those projects being completed soon.