Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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It is important to acknowledge that the Minister is not here this evening. I have the height of respect for the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, but we need a housing Minister to deal with this issue. Irish Water is running and hiding from Ballingeary. It needs to answer to somebody and it should be the Minister in this House. I must note my frustration with that.

The outdated sewerage scheme in Ballingeary is discharging into the river below the village. Some 15 years ago, the water authority received a conviction because of that pollution. The Irish Water sewerage scheme is impeding housing in the village. As matters stand, locals struggle to get planning permission in the village but they can only be considered if they put in their own treatment plants. That is hugely expensive and also uses space in the village. Irish Water is charging a fee to connect to a sewer that is not working and all the while residents have to pay for their own treatment plants and maintain them in the village. You could not make it up. It is difficult for people to get planning permission in many rural areas, including around Ballingeary where Irish Water's treatment plant restricts this further in the village, both for houses and businesses. Ballingeary is also a Gaeltacht area and the language depends on people being able to live locally. Without that there is no language. Irish Water is threatening the Gaeltacht by its inaction.

Cork County Council was advancing Ballingeary wastewater plant and a number of other plants many years ago. It even prepared a planning application at the time. While the other plants in what was known as the western bundle have since been officially opened, no progress appears to have been made by Irish Water on Ballingeary. This is despite the pollution, the water pollution conviction and the housing need locally. When there is a flood in the Bun Sílinn river the sewage spills out onto the GAA grounds and the club has to do a clean-up ahead of any training session. There is no point waiting for Irish Water. It takes a “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil” approach. It has not advanced the plant in the past number of years, during which county council reports have indicated that it has been asked to advance business cases to justify Ballingeary treatment plant. The water pollution conviction does not appear to have driven any sense of urgency in Irish Water. For months, the company has not responded to queries on plants on Ballingeary or the influence of water convictions. It was only in recent weeks when I tabled this Topical Issue matter that it has been in any way forthcoming with information. It takes a consistent “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil” approach, while continuing to perpetrate pollution locally.

Various authorities, including the Environmental Protection Agency, are now investigating Irish Water discharges into the Bun Sílinn river below Ballingeary, which flow into the River Lee. It appears that Irish Water believes it can continue to pollute the river for years to come. That is not good enough. Irish Water needs to wake up and advance the sewerage scheme for Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I am taking this Topical Issue matter on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I thank the Deputy for raising it and allowing me the opportunity to outline the position in respect of Irish Water's responsibility on this matter. 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 the scrutiny and oversight provisions that apply in respect of these arrangements. As the Deputy will understand, the wastewater infrastructure in Ballingeary, County Cork, is a matter for Irish Water in the first instance. 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.

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 proposed investment plans in advance to its economic regulator, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU. The investment plan follows an extensive CRU-Ied stakeholder consultation process and is based on a clearly defined set of priorities. My Department has made inquiries with Irish Water on the issue of wastewater treatment infrastructure at Ballingeary, as raised by Deputy Moynihan. Irish Water confirmed to me that it has received a number of inquiries in recent months from various Deputies, councillors and members of the public regarding the inclusion of the Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh or Ballingeary wastewater treatment plant in its next capital investment plan. Irish Water has commenced a feasibility study on the upgrade of the wastewater treatment plant to consider fully the viable options to address the infrastructural issues associated with the plant, its impact on receiving waters and its capacity to cater for growth. This feasibility study report is planned to be completed before the end of 2024. The necessary upgrade works, if approved, would then be included in the 2025-29 capital investment plan.

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 Minister's Department secured funding of more than €1.68 billion to support water services. This includes €1.557 billion in respect of domestic water services provision by Irish Water. The overall investment will deliver significant improvements in our public water and wastewater services.

In light of the time left to me, I will take on board exactly what Deputy Moynihan said in regard to the local GAA field, what members of the community are experiencing there on a regular basis and the impact on the environment and the community. I will raise this matter with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, because I do not know if the community can wait until 2025.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Tá Uisce Éireann ag déanamh faillí ar mhuintir Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh. Tá bac ar thithíocht sa sráidbhaile toisc nach bhfuil aon chóras séarachais ag oibriú ann. Tá truailliú leanúnach in Abha Bhun Sílinn agus sa Laoi in ainneoin gur ciontaíodh an t-údarás uisce as an truailliú sin. Bhí an chomhairle contae ag forbairt pleananna ach níl aon rud déanta ag Uisce Éireann le breis agus deich mbliana anuas. Nuair a bhíonn an tuile ann, tagann an séarachas amach chuig an pháirc CLG agus bíonn ar an gclub é a ghlanadh mar ní fiú feitheamh le hUisce Éireann. Ní bheidh sé ag teacht. Tá na húdaráis éagsúla, an Ghníomhaireacht um Chaomhnú Comhshaoil, EPA, ina measc, ag iniúchadh an truaillithe seo. Tá Uisce Éireann ag cur gach rud ar an méar fhada i gcomhair mhuintir Bhéal Átha an Ghaorthaidh agus ba cheart dó dúisigh suas agus freastal ar phobal na Gaeltachta.

Irish Water has not used the last ten years to advance Ballingarry, from what the Minister of State has outlined to us. The other schemes in that western bundle are now open and operational, yet what is being described from Irish Water is pretty much at stage 1. I note it also refers to “recent” queries from people. There have been ongoing queries and representations from people for many years. This is just more of Irish Water's “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil”. It is time for it to wake up and serve the people of Ballingarry.

How many other treatment plants would have a water pollution conviction against the water authority? How many other situations like that would be allowed to persist, year after year, and then, Irish Water gives us a plan, if we can call it that, suggesting that somewhere off in never-never land, it will take action. Surely a conviction in the court carries some weight. Is it not time for Irish Water to step up to the plate?

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I once again thank Deputy Moynihan for raising the question on wastewater treatment infrastructure in Ballingarry, County Cork. The Deputy will understand that the progression of individual wastewater treatment plants and infrastructure is a matter for Irish Water and I can assure him the Government is committed to ensuring that substantial funding is provided to Irish Water.

The programme for Government commits to funding Irish Water’s capital investment plan for water and wastewater infrastructure on a multi-annual basis. The national development plan 2021-2030 commits almost €6 billion in capital investment by Irish Water in the period 2021-2025, of which more than €4.5 billion will be voted Exchequer funding for domestic water services. In regard to overall investment, the programme for Government states that the Government will fund Irish Water's capital investment plan for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure on a multi-annual basis and deliver the €8.5 billion funding package committed in Project Ireland 2040. This overall funding commitment is key to addressing Ireland's shortcomings in water and wastewater infrastructure.

The Department is making progress on the challenges it faces and the Government will continue to deliver strongly on the commitments in regard to water services contained in the programme for Government. It may be helpful to note that Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. I will take back to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, Deputy Moynihan’s frustration that the Minister is not here this evening to take this query, as well as its nature and the urgency attached to it. I thank the Deputy for raising it.