Dáil debates

Tuesday, 21 July 2020

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate

Wastewater Treatment

11:25 pm

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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Since I was elected, wastewater treatment is a recurring issue raised by communities in Cork South-West. I am focusing on the cases of Belgooly and Shannonvale tonight but I will send details to the Minister of State about issues in areas from Bandon to Goleen on the Mizen Peninsula.

From an environmental and health perspective, the very least people should expect is the proper treatment of wastewater and household sewage. However, years of under-investment in water infrastructure has left communities and areas exposed to discharges and serious malodour. The EPA report entitled Water Quality in Ireland 2013-2018 found that almost half of our rivers, lakes and estuaries are ecologically unsatisfactory. Wastewater discharge is listed as one of the main causes of deterioration, after agriculture.

The programme for Government acknowledges our water infrastructure deficits and their role in pollution and environmental damage. I welcome the commitment to ensure Irish Water can invest in wastewater treatment and want to raise two cases in west Cork which need to be prioritised. Belgooly is a wonderful village between Cork city and Kinsale, a great place to live near the coast. However, the quality of life for residents in Riverbank and surrounding estates has been seriously affected by awful odours coming from a wastewater treatment plant for close to two years now. Residents there have to keep their windows closed, and at times they cannot let their children out to play. There are also reports of untreated wastewater from this plant being discharged into a nearby estuary. I will quote a tweet by a local from 11 July: "Another beautiful day ended abruptly with the horrendous malodour from our treatment plant, the smell is in my home, we had to close all windows again and endure the smell indoors as well as outdoors. We can't even open our windows tonight to cool down!" This plant is not working. It is clearly not fit for purpose. The most distressing thing for residents is that this is not being resolved. Repeated complaints have been lodged with Irish Water and the EPA. Engineers visit, the tank is de-sludged and we are assured the plant is within capacity, yet the issue remains.

I and my team have been attempting to deal with this issue for considerably less time than the residents, but we are finding ourselves lost between Irish Water and other bodies, between different reports, and other bureaucratic barriers. The people of Belgooly are being fobbed off. This cannot go on. Will the Minister of State give me an assurance that he will take action on this?

That is not all. There is one more case I want to raise. There is also a desperate need for immediate action on the issue of an overflowing septic tank in Shannonvale near Clonakilty. The plant, which services nine houses in the area, was put into the park in the middle of the village. It is a beautiful site next to the Argideen river, which used to host many community events until this was installed. It was the town park and public amenity area. Now it is overgrown and dilapidated with a septic tank that is overflowing with untreated water that is flooding into the area and then entering the river. The Minister of State can imagine how awful that is for residents in Shannonvale. The park should be the heart of the village but instead it is currently unsafe for children to play in. Irish Water, Cork County Council and the EPA have all been aware of the situation for years, but it has not been resolved.

The council empties the plant regularly and sedimentation has been added, but the underlying issue remains. The people of Shannonvale also need action.

I have visited these communities in recent weeks. I do not want to return and tell them the same thing they have been told by Irish Water or the council. I want to tell them they do not have to put up with this anymore. It is unacceptable. Will the Minister of State please do something about it and not do an Irish Water on it and pass the problem onto someone else, carry out a report that achieves nothing or simply ignore this?

11:35 pm

Photo of Peter BurkePeter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which I understand is a source of concern for a number of her constituents. At the outset, I should highlight that the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, as environmental regulator, is responsible for setting quality standards and enforcing compliance with EU directives and national regulations for drinking water supplies and wastewater discharges to water bodies. 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's primary function is to provide clean safe drinking water to customers and to collect, treat and return wastewater safely back to the environment, including the two wastewater treatment plants raised tonight by the Deputy.

My Department no longer has any direct role in monitoring or supervising the delivery of water services. However, from inquiries made with Irish Water, I understand that while refurbishment works were carried out in 2018, further investigations for sewer network blockages and possible malfunctions have been carried out and issues rectified where possible. Notwithstanding these actions, Irish Water is considering the need for an upgrade to the treatment plant at Belgooly to cater for the existing and projected future loading in the area during the investment planning process for their next capital investment plan. I understand from Irish Water that the treatment system at Shannonvale consists of a septic tank and percolation area that serves a terrace of nine houses. The septic tank is not overloaded, however Irish Water's investigations suggest that the source of the issue is the percolation area. Irish Water is examining what operational, remedial works or capital maintenance works are required to be undertaken in advance of any infrastructure project at Shannonvale.

The Deputy will appreciate the investment needs across our entire water system are considerable; they will take a number of investment cycles to fully resolve and will require significant and sustained investment. Under the recently adopted programme for Government, the Government has committed to continuing the €8.5 billion funding package agreed in Project Ireland 2040, which will be invested in public water services to ensure the continued operation, repair and upgrading of Ireland's water and wastewater infrastructure to support social and economic development across the State and ensure compliance with EU directives. In more general terms, the Government's river basin management plan 2018-2021 outlines what Ireland is doing to protect and improve all of our waters. The next river basin management plan is currently being prepared by my Department.

I accept that Deputy Cairns makes a very strong argument for her constituents in the two areas mentioned, especially in relation to the safety of those in Shannonbay, particularly children. I will revert back to Irish Water through the Department and see what we can get. There are many areas throughout the country which have significant pressure points that are urgent and will require significant capital investment in the coming years, including in my own constituency. It takes money to fund them but Project Ireland 2040 has a significant budget behind it.

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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That is precisely the response that I did not want. I know it is Irish Water's responsibility but there seems to be some confusion. The Minister of State says it is all Irish Water's responsibility but I know that Cork County Council is responsible for desludging, for example, so there are grey areas. When it affects people's quality of life, at what point can the State intervene if Irish Water continually fobs off communities? I said it was affecting people's lives, which this included not being able to take children out during lockdown. Some might be at the stage of wanting to move and their house prices are affected.

We need greater transparency around how projects are prioritised as funding becomes available. Shannonvale has been an issue for years.

We have been in contact with the EPA which, as the Minister of State noted, has responsibility for this too. It is appalling for the local community that this has not been resolved.

Can we have clarity on how funding is prioritised? The Minister of State said the project was on the next capital grant list. Is that guaranteed? When will it happen?

Photo of Peter BurkePeter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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As I stated in my opening remarks, Irish Water's primary function is to provide clean safe drinking water to customers and to treat, collect and return wastewater safely to the environment. In providing these critical services Irish Water plays a role enabling social and economic growth. It faces a great challenge because more than 1 billion litres of wastewater from homes and businesses are collected every day in Ireland's public sewers and treated in 1,100 different treatment plants across our system. As I pointed out, the capital investment programme is significant but the scale of the problem in the country is also quite significant. I commit to go back to Irish Water about the two areas mentioned. It is examining what remedial capital maintenance works in Shannonvale can be carried out in advance of the capital programme. Belgooly is a significant issue for the residents of Riverbank and is serious, as the Deputy has noted that effluent is possibly being discharged into the estuary. The Deputy has made a strong case about both matters and I will bring it to Irish Water but I must also be clear that there are quite a number of competing issues for Irish Water's capital investment programme. There are problems across the country and they must be assessed independently by Irish Water. Those in most need must be catered for first. I will do my best to bring something back.

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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Does the State have any role to play in Irish Water?

Photo of Peter BurkePeter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Irish Water is a fully independent in its legislative basis. It has a budget from the State through the capital investment -----

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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Can the State intervene at a certain point? Does it have a role?

Photo of Peter BurkePeter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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It is independent so it has its own CEO and independent board. It is independent from the State.

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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It might be encouraged, perhaps.

Photo of Peter BurkePeter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I will do my best and bring the strong case made by the Deputy to Irish Water.

The Dáil adjourned at at 12.08 a.m. until 9.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 22 July 2020.