Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The wastewater plant at the southern end of Crossbarry has been malfunctioning for many years causing blockages, flooding, foul smells and a serious nuisance for locals. Cork County Council, Irish Water and the Department have all agreed that it needs to be upgraded. As it was privately developed, the only option to solve the issues is to have it taken in charge. The Minister must release the new taking-in-charge scheme and give Crossbarry the chance to carry out the much-needed repair work and clean up the mess at the plant.

In addition to the large plant at the lower end of the village, there are a number of smaller temporary plants. Individuals in the village want to build houses and others who want to upgrade their businesses. They are all stuck because of the inadequate sewerage connection. When Cluain na Croise was built in 2004 the plant at the end of the estate offered the best option for connecting the rest of Crossbarry village. Pipes were laid around other parts of the village and temporary plants were installed, pending the connection of these developments. The estate was not taken in charge and the developer collapsed when the building boom crashed. When problems arose at the plant, residents were left stuck, experiencing blocked sewers and unable to flush their downstairs toilets.

When emergencies occur local councils step in to resolve the problem. However, because the council is no longer a water authority, it is not in a position to carry out the upgrade. This is impacting on the wider village because the plant was meant to service the village and link up existing plants. The 2016 taking-in-charge initiative offered hope because €180,000 was approved for Crossbarry at that point. The expectation that works would be carried out was not realised and no works were carried out. Irish Water wanted to connect to Inishshannon to solve the problem. Surveys were carried out and the company came back with the same solution, namely, the big plant at the lower end of the village was needed.

That pilot scheme, which was the best option, did not advance for Crossbarry. It was the only scheme in the pilot that did not advance to construction. We have been seeking to have the scheme reopened since 2017. I have raised the matter repeatedly in the Dáil with the Minister of State. It was possibly the first question he addressed in the summer of 2017. At that point, we understood a review was to be conducted shortly, but here we are again. I have raised this repeatedly in a series of questions and have been told the review would take place shortly. People are stuck. We know that €31 million has been allocated to the new taking-in-charge initiative but the scheme needs to be opened in order that an application for the project in Crossbarry can be made. The project has already been assessed under the pilot scheme. We know exactly what is needed so it could even be fast-tracked in the new initiative when it opens.

I appeal to the Minister of State to act in order that we can put an end to the blocked sewers, overflowing gullies and smell affecting a particular corner of Crossbarry and give people in the village the opportunity for an improved quality of life. To be fair to them, these people have put up with this for far too long. This initiative is a real possibility for them. The funding is available and I ask the Minister of State to open the scheme so that Crossbarry and other places can apply.

John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am taking this Topical Issue matter on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Murphy. I thank Deputy Aindrias Moynihan for raising this issue and providing me with the opportunity to outline the position on wastewater treatment in Crossbarry, County Cork. Crossbarry is not serviced by a public wastewater collection and treatment system at present. However, I understand that there are three housing developments in the village, Cluain na Croise, Cúl na Gréine and Gleann Álainn, which are not taken in charge and are serviced by developer provided water services infrastructure. The taking-in-charge of housing developments is a matter for the relevant local authority under section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.

The Department launched the national taking-in-charge initiative in April 2016, as the Deputy noted, to trial new approaches and working methods in supporting and accelerating national and local action on the process for the taking in charge of housing estates, including estates with developer provided water services infrastructure. Under the terms of the initiative, which was underpinned by €10 million in funding, developments subject to valid taking-in-charge applications were eligible for inclusion in the associated call for funding proposals. Ultimately, €7.5 million of the allocated funding was paid to local authorities in respect of 330 developments containing some 14,930 homes. Cork County Council was allocated funding under the initiative for several proposed schemes to resolve developer provided water services infrastructure issues. The Deputy said the figure was €180,000, but I am told that €90,000 was allocated to estates in Crossbarry in County Cork. I understand the funding was used by the council to investigate the optimum sustainable solution for resolving these three developments, while also taking account of the wastewater needs of the entire village.

Findings and recommendations from the national taking-in-charge initiative process will be included in a report on the initiative that the Government intends to publish shortly. The publication of this report will be of value to local authorities and other stakeholders in applying the lessons from the pilot programme in a more general roll-out of a streamlined approach to taking in charge, including through co-ordination, with capital works by Irish Water.

In addition, the national development plan includes a provision of €31 million for the taking in charge of developer provided water services infrastructure in the period until 2021, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to transition from the pilot phase under the initiative to a programme phase. The Department intends to write to local authorities to advise them of the future funding arrangements for housing estates with developer provided water services infrastructure that are not taken in charge following the publication of the report of the review of the initiative, which I am told will be published at the start of 2019.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Minister of State knows, the council is not a water authority and, as such, it does not have funding to do this work.

It is all very much dependent on the taking in charge initiative with the €31 million in funding that is already in place. Not all of the funding that was allocated was used. In fact, very little of it was used because it was identified that there was a bigger job needed on it and that the taking in charge initiative would be the only show in town to benefit people in Crossbarry.

I have raised repeatedly the launching and reopening of this scheme so that places such as Crossbarry can apply. In summer 2017, it was happening shortly. In summer 2018, it was happening shortly. In the autumn, it was happening shortly. Now, the Minister of State is telling me that it is slipping off into 2019. People in Crossbarry need a result on it. They need to see that there will be action on that treatment plant at the end of the village and that they will not be pushed on further and further. Each time, we are being told it is some other time. In the interests of people in Crossbarry, we cannot afford to let those timelines slip. They need to see that there will be a result on it. Hearing that it is slipping off into the start of 2019 is not good enough for people in Crossbarry.

When the new scheme opens, because Crossbarry has been through the pilot and assessed and we know exactly what is needed there, can it be prioritised? Can it be fast-tracked through it or do they have to make a new application because it was the only one in the original pilot that did not go to construction? All of the assessments have been conducted on what is needed in linking up the various services in Crossbarry. Can it be fast-tracked?

Will the Minister of State give an assurance that the timeline will not continue to slip? We have seen it already slip from summer 2017 to summer 2018 to autumn and now into the start of 2019. In the interests of people in Crossbarry, will the Minister of State give an assurance that it will happen?

John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Seeing as it is end of the first week in December, I expect that people in Crossbarry probably realise at this stage that the start of 2019 is the earliest date that this report can be completed. The Government is committed to resolving such issues, not only in Crossbarry but throughout the country.

I reassure Deputy Moynihan that, following the imminent publication of the review, a multi-annual funding programme will be initiated to look at the needs of such housing estates and villages and towns throughout the country. Under the 2016 pilot scheme, the Department established a bids evaluation panel to assist in the evaluation of bids from local authorities and I expect that, under the forthcoming multi-annual funding programme, a similar approach will be implemented for the proposed new programme. In such case, it will be the panel that will make recommendations to the Department on the suitability of projects for funding based on the objective criteria ensuring independence, openness and transparency. The initial selection of the individual projects for funding will be a matter for the relevant local authority, in this case, Cork County Council. The Department will then consider the recommendations of the panel and, based on these, proposed projects for funding will be approved by the Minister.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We have a Minister for the second topic but we are missing the Deputy, who is Deputy Rock.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The bus is late.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The two of us could always stand in.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We have a Deputy for the third topic but not a Minister. I would say Deputy Rock might be just held up. We will hold on for a minute or two and see if we can get him.

Unfortunately, I must suspend the House for five minutes.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, might be on his way here.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We will suspend for a few minutes until the Minister comes. There is no point in us sitting here.