Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

There is a problem with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The blockages, hold ups, time lags and delays with water schemes and the slowness with which approvals are issued must be part of the problem. I ask the Leader to use her influence to ensure that the process relating to the various water schemes in development throughout the country, of which there are several, should be speeded up. It seems that there has been, in part at least, a breakdown of the system relating to the proper monitoring of water quality. The latter is extremely important.

It was remiss of me not to do so before but I wish to welcome what is about to happen in the beautiful Black Valley that nestles in the foothills of the MacGillycuddy Reeks. Some people from the area are due to attend a committee meeting here at 2.30 p.m. today. Eircom has decided to solve their problems.