Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

Regarding the Dublin waste water plant, how could the Government and Dublin City Council have got it so wrong? Previously in this House, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government stated that the plant was the model for the rest of the country. I ask the Acting Leader to arrange a debate on public private partnerships and design, build and operate schemes and how they will operate in view of what has happened at the plant.

The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is looking for up to 20% contributions from local authorities around the country to provide waste water facilities. This is placing a considerable burden on towns like Castlebar and Ennis. What is the position regarding Dublin city? Will the business community, which has already paid the contribution, have to cough up again to prop up the public private partnership that has been arranged and was hailed as the Rolls Royce of all waste water plants by the previous Minister, Deputy Cullen? It appears that the Fianna Fáil slogan, "A lot done, more to do" is apt in these circumstances.