Brendan Daly (Fianna Fail)

I refer to Carrigaholt Bay in County Clare where the aquaculture industry has all but closed own because of contamination by untreated effluent entering the bay from Carrigaholt village. This is one example of the bureaucracy mentioned by Senator Ormonde. A scheme for the village has been in preparation for nine or ten years. Communities are being devastated, as Senator Finucane stated, because schemes are being delayed for four or five years because of bureaucracy and red tape. Funding provided for the schemes in recent years has not been drawn down because the schemes have not progressed. The conditions of foreshore licences are another issue in coastal areas. For example, an additional €800,000 is needed to implement a small scheme in west Clare because of these conditions and, as a result, it cannot be taken on locally. The Ministers for Finance, Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, who is responsible for the CLÁR areas, urgently need to meet before the summer recess to ensure these schemes are implemented. Communities are being devastated by the failure to do so and shellfish businesses, for example, are closing. This major crisis needs to be resolved.