Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Beidh spéis ag an Leas-Cheann Comhairle san ábhar seo freisin. Tá baile Chill Rónáin suite ar Inis Mór nó ar na hOileáin Árann mar is ceart a rá. Tá scéim bheag séarachais i seilbh Uisce Éireann i gCill Rónáin a dhéanann freastal ar thithe comhairle contae a tógadh ansin blianta fada ó shin. Thóg sé píosa fada go dtí gur ghlac Uisce Éireann go raibh freagracht air i dtaobh na scéime seo a ghlac sé faoi dheireadh. Taobh amuigh de sin, níl aon scéim séarachais ar an mbaile beag seo, baile go bhfuil bocht i dtaobh foráis faoi agus a dtugann go leor daoine cuairt air. Tá sé spéisiúil a thógáil san áireamh fiú nach bhfuil na leithris poiblí atá ag an gcomhairle contae ceangailte le scéim séarachais poiblí ach le ceann beag príobháideach.

Le tamall fada anuas, tá mé ag scríobh agus ag scríobh ag an EPA faoin gceist seo agus de réir mar a thuigim tá sé ag feidhmiú faoi dheireadh le rud éigin a dhéanamh faoi ach is paisteáil atá i gceist. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil cás cúirte - níl a fhios agam céard faoi go díreach - le bheith ann an mhí seo. Tá an cás go ginearálta faoi shéarachas ach níl a fhios agam cén chóras nó céard faoi. Is cuma cén chaoi a bhreathnóimid air, níl ach réiteach amháin ar an bhfadhb seo, is é sin go dtógfar scéim séarachais ceart as an nua do bhaile Chill Rónáin ar fad.

Caithfimid a thógáil san áireamh go dtagann suas agus anuas le 2,000 duine isteach go dtí an céibh i gCill Rónáin sa samhradh. Caitheann an chuid is mó de na daoine sin am i gCill Rónáin, baineann siad úsáid as na saoráidí ann, bíonn béilí ag go leor acu ann agus níl aon scéim séarachais ann. Beidh breis turasóirí i mbliana mar go bhfuil bád nua ag dul ag tosú as Gaillimh a bheas in ann 400 nó 500 paisinéir a iompar ach arís níl tada ag tarlú.

Tá mé tar éis an cheist a thógáil roinnt uaireanta le hUisce Éireann agus tá sé admhaithe aige go gcaithfidh sé rud éigin a dhéanamh faoin scéim bheag atá aige féin i láthair na huaire. Le barúil chomh dona agus atá cúrsaí, dúirt sé go bhfuil conraitheoir fostaithe aige anois le breathnú ar an percolation area mar a thugann sé air, le feabhas a chur air agus le fuíolluisce a stopadh ag luí ann. Sin rud nach mbeadh duine ag súil leis ar oileán de chloch aoil ach rud atá ag tarlú le fada. Sin chomh dona agus atá rudaí.

Caithfear an obair ghearrthéarmach a dhéanamh ach teastaíonn scéim nua ar fad a chlúdódh an baile ar fad agus gach séarachas príobháideach sa bhaile agus a ligfeadh don bhaile fás. Is mór an náire don oiread sin daoine de mhuintir na háite agus do dhaoine ag teacht isteach agus séarachas Chill Rónáin mar atá sé.

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Ó Cuív as an gceist seo a ardú agus as an seans a thabhairt dom dualgas Uisce Éireann a leagan amach sa chás seo. Seo obair thábhachtach agus tuigim gur ábhar imní é go áitiúil i gCill Rónáin, Inis Mór. Tá brón orm ach tá an freagra as Béarla.

As the Deputy will understand, this is a matter for Irish Water in the first instance. Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has had statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Thus, the prioritisation and progression of individual projects, such as those outlined this evening, are a matter for determination by Irish Water.

My Department has made inquiries specifically with Irish Water on the issue mentioned by Deputy Ó Cuív. I understand that there is a small waste water treatment system serving a small number of houses in the village and that it is managed by Irish Water, along with its partner, Galway County Council.

I am informed that Irish Water has been investigating complaints and that works required to improve this facility are currently being reviewed. A programme of works is currently being planned. It is anticipated that these works will be completed in the second half of 2021to alleviate the concerns of residents in the area. Further information is available from Irish Water's website, or by telephone on 1850 278 278. Details of all Irish Water's plans and projects are available at www.water.ie.

Significant and sustained investment is needed to ensure the continued operation, upgrading and repair of the country's water and waste water infrastructure and to support economic growth in the years to come. In this regard, as part of budget 2021, my Department secured funding of over €1.4 billion to support water services. This includes €1.3 billion in respect of domestic water services provision by Irish Water. This overall investment will deliver significant improvements in our public water and waste water services, support improved water supplies right across Ireland, including rural Ireland, and the islands.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as ucht na ceiste seo a thógáil, ach caithfidh mé a rá go bhfuil an t-eolas a tugadh dó thar a bheith easnamhach. Mar a dúirt an tAire Stáit, tá €1.4 billiún do chaitheamh ar sheirbhísí uisce agus séarachais i mbliana agus ní beag an méid é, ach tá lúb ar lár anseo, in ainneoin an méid a dúirt an tAire Stáit.

Nuair a chuir mise an cheist ar Uisce Éireann an raibh i gceist aige scéim séarachais ceart a chur isteach i gCill Rónáin a chlúdódh, mar shampla, séarachas na comhairle contae ó na leithris poiblí agus áitreabh eile ar an mbaile, séard a dúirt sé liom ná nach féidir leis scéim séarachais a chur isteach i gCill Rónáin mar go bhfuil rialacha ag an rialaitheoir a chuireann cosc air aon scéim séarachais nua a fhorbairt. Léifidh mé amach go díreach, focal ar fhocal, an rud a dúirt sé:

At present, there is no approved funding model for such situations and Irish Water currently has no remit or responsibility to fund such schemes under CRU funding rules. [Mar a dúirt siad fhéin] Irish Water is not responsible for the operation of any other waste water system on Inis Mór other than through providing for the aforementioned Kilronan cottages. Irish Water has no plans to provide a waste water treatment plant at Kilronan village.

An bhfuil i gceist ag an Aire Stáit na rialacha a athrú chun gur féidir scéimeanna uisce, mar a dúirt an tAire Stáit féin, a chur ar fáil ar na hoileáin? Faoi láthair, is cosúil go bhfuil cosc ann ó thaobh an rialatheora de ar é sin a dhéanamh.

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Ó Cuív arís as an gceist faoi chóras séarachais i gCill Rónáin, Inis Mór, Árainn a ardú.

I understand how the lack of satisfactory water services and sewerage systems can affect communities, business and the environment. I take on board and appreciate the frustration of the Deputy in this regard. His last point is significant. It is one on which we will follow up in our inquiries with Irish Water.

The works planned in the second half of 2021 are an immediate priority for Irish Water. Any future wider works for the village can be considered in the context of longer-term planning. We will raise this as a matter of priority. In the meantime, the Government is committed to ensuring substantial funding is provided to Irish Water under the review of the national development plan to continue its programme of upgrading water services. It is important to state this includes rural areas and our islands.

We are making progress on the challenges we face and additional moneys were announced today for ten additional waste water treatment plants under the recovery and resilience fund. There is significant investment required but I appreciate the points raised by Deputy Ó Cuív, particularly on this case. We will respond to him in that regard.