Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, has never been to the Warren Beach in Rosscarbery, so I will tell her about it. It is paradise, with golden sands, and you can look out at Galley Head and the stag rocks off Toe Head. There is nowhere like it. It is very peaceful, and anyone who has discovered this gem of a beach will know how nice it is.

Unfortunately, on 15 August of this year, the beach was closed to the public because of a bathing ban. Usually when there is a bathing ban at a beach, it is because the water is tested and perhaps some harmful bacteria are found, but not so in this case. In this case, the ban was brought about following a report of a visible issue, when the lifeguards on duty reported raw sewage coming towards the beach. We can imagine the scenes. At this piece of heaven in an idyllic west Cork location, children were being called out of the water because there was a sighting of excrement and a large plume of sewage. There was significant disappointment among the locals who live in Rosscarbery and the tourists who were visiting this really upcoming tourism town at the peak of tourism season.

After that, we had a public meeting because locals, businesses, residents and visitors had said enough was enough and that we needed to get to the bottom of the matter. Previous bathing bans in the lagoon in Rosscarbery had been brought about following similar issues. We have asked Irish Water to look into what is causing the issue. Anyone who knows the area knows it is very simple: the wastewater treatment plant is not functioning. It is old, it does not have the capacity required and an overflow of sewage is clearly seeping into the water. Irish Water will deny there is any issue; in fact, it will say tests have proved "inconclusive". To me, that is completely avoiding the reality of the matter. Any of the locals, or any of the Cork County Council staff who maintain the wastewater treatment plant, will agree the wastewater treatment plant is not functioning and sewage is seeping over the overflow and into the water.

This is a very important issue. Rosscarbery relies on the warren and Warren Beach is one of its major attractions. Rosscarbery is an up and coming tourism village and a fantastic place for anybody lucky enough to have discovered it. However, this cannot go on. The village has a reputation to keep. The beach is stunning and safe. It has lifeguards during the summer. It is a safe place to bring a family but we need to sort out the sewage issue. Rosscarbery, the people who live in and visit it and local businesses need this wastewater treatment plant to be sorted as soon as possible.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity to outline the position relating to Irish Water's responsibility for this matter, which I am answering on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Water Services Acts 2007 to 2017 set out the arrangements in place for the delivery of water and wastewater services by Irish Water and for the scrutiny and oversight provisions that apply in respect of these arrangements.

As the Deputy will understand, the wastewater infrastructure in Owenahincha is a matter for Irish Water in the first instance. Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Irish Water takes a strategic nationwide approach to asset planning and investment and meeting customer requirements. The prioritisation and progression of individual projects and programmes are a matter for determination by Irish Water. I would like to see exactly what approach it will take to planning investment and meeting consumers' requirements in the Deputy's area because when he talks about that little piece of heaven, I would like to think it is not a desktop exercise. There is a need for an upgrade of wastewater.

Irish Water's capital investment plan runs until 2024 and is prepared within the regulatory framework, which is set out in legislation. Under this framework, Irish Water submits its investment plans in advance to its economic regulator, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in Ireland, CRU. The investment plan follows an extensive CRU-Ied stakeholder consultation process and is based on a clearly defined set of priorities. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has made inquiries with Irish Water on the issue of wastewater treatment infrastructure at Owenahincha, as raised by the Deputy. I am informed Rosscarbery-Owenahincha is licensed by the EPA and is a single agglomeration with a primary discharge. There are separate networks but the treatment takes place at the same location. I am also informed that delivery timelines for the Rosscarbery and Owenahincha sewerage scheme cannot yet be confirmed. It is disappointing that there is no timeline when it is a time-sensitive matter. If we even knew the scheme was in a planning timeline and was on the books, that would be good. However, it is not included in the current capital investment plan. The project will be considered again as part of the development of the next revenue control period from 2025 to 2029. In the meantime, a water quality assessment is planned for 2023 to determine any impacts of the discharge on the receiving water. The wastewater network will also be surveyed to assess any works required to reduce the impact on infiltration.

The Government is aware that significant and sustained investment is needed to ensure the continued operation, upgrade and repair of the country's water and wastewater infrastructure and to support economic growth in the years to come. In this regard, as part of budget 2023, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has secured funding of over €1.69 billion to support water services. This includes €1.57 billion in respect of domestic water service provision by Irish Water. This overall investment will deliver significant improvements in our public water and wastewater services, support improved water supplies right across Ireland and deliver improved water quality in our rivers, lakes and marine areas.

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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I know the Minister of State read that statement out on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Irish Water. The people of Rosscarbery and Owenahincha, which has another beautiful beach close to Warren Beach, cannot wait until 2025 or 2029. That is much too far out. Warren Beach is a gem, not just for Rosscarbery but the whole Clonakilty-Rosscarbery-Skibbereen area and attracts so many people to the region. They cannot wait until after 2025 and maybe 2029 for the scheme to be included in a capital programme. As a Deputy who represents west Cork, including Rosscarbery, Warren Beach and Owenahincha, I am pleading for the upgrade of the Rosscarbery-Owenahincha wastewater treatment plant to be included in this capital investment programme.

The Minister does not have a say in the day-to-day running of Irish Water but he does control the purse strings. I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to sit down and discuss how we can get the Rosscarbery-Owenahincha wastewater treatment plant included in this capital investment programme. Rosscarbery needs it. Warren Beach - this piece of heaven I described - needs it. The residents who live there need it. People who visit this area time and again and year after year need reassurance that this issue will be dealt with and that they will not have deal with excrement in the water because it is a stunning place. The Minister of State should visit some time.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I again thank the Deputy for raising this issue regarding wastewater treatment and infrastructure. He will understand that the progression of individual wastewater plants and infrastructure is a matter for Irish Water, as he rightly noted when he said the Minister was not involved in the day-to-day operation of the organisation. At the same time, there must be direction for Irish Water. In the programme for Government, we commit funding for the water capital investment plan for water and wastewater infrastructure. I do not have all the answers but perhaps the Deputy, the Minister and I could meet to discuss this Topical Issue so that the people of Rosscarbery do not feel their voice has not been heard by the person who is responsible for funding Irish Water.