Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this issue, the need for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to give the names and numbers of water and sewerage schemes in Donegal that are not in compliance with current European directives and the towns and villages that are still awaiting schemes to come into compliance with all relevant EU directives.

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Áine Brady, for attending. She is a regular visitor to the Seanad. My home town does not have a sewerage scheme and the raw sewage is being discharged untreated into the River Foyle. It is not the only town in that situation. Carndonagh was provided with a water and sewerage scheme recently but the scheme in Buncrana requires upgrading. As the bigger villages and towns are not being dealt with, small villages such as Ballyliffin do not have schemes either as they are awaiting prioritisation.

I am concerned about the delay in addressing this situation. It is almost 30 years since it was suggested that Moville would get a sewerage scheme. There is controversy over where it should be sited but I will not come down on either side other than point out that there must be an end to a process as well as a start. I am aware that legislation was passed to speed up the provision of infrastructure but our current economic situation is not as good as it was, although investment for water and sewerage schemes remains high and there is a strong commitment to it.

A number of years ago directives were issued by the European Union relating to water quality and bathing water. These demand that the Irish Government and the local authorities bring towns and villages into compliance with standards. Deadlines were set for towns and villages with populations of over 15,000, 10,000, 5,000, 1,500 and under 1,500. Aside from my concern that towns do not have a sewerage scheme and the necessary upgraded water supplies, there is also the concern that Europe might fine Ireland with daily fines for not being in compliance with directives. We have already had our knuckles rapped by Europe with regard to Letterkenny.

The impediments to getting this basic infrastructure in place must be met head on. I am not trying to subvert the process but there have been processes taking place in some places for decades. The EU directives loom before us and the worst way we should spend money at this point is in making compensation payments to Europe for failing to comply with the directives. My aim in this regard is simple. Sometimes I have a great deal to say about an issue but not on this. It is very clear. I have asked the Minister to highlight the number of schemes in Donegal, why they are not progressing and what the Minister will do to ensure they will progress. If the compliance date has not already been breached in the case of most of these schemes, it will be soon. I want to be able to say that at least I tried to warn the Minister before we get into a situation where we are paying what could be up to €100,000 per day for non-compliance with the directives. I would prefer that money was spent more constructively on my constituents instead of the taxpayer paying the cost of fines for uncompleted works. It is as simple as that.