Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as ucht an t-ábhar seo a ardú inniu. I acknowledge that this is a human health matter and that there is also a cost to businesses, many of which have been dealing with lockdown over the past number of months and are seeking signs of hope from the pandemic towards a brighter summer. This is the summer of the outdoors, as the Taoiseach has stated. It is really important that our wastewater treatment plants and bathing areas are in a condition where people can enjoy bathing in a safe manner.

With the recent publication of the Environmental Protection Agency's Bathing Water Quality in Ireland 2020 report, I am pleased to see the continued improvements in the quality of our bathing waters, especially those bathing waters that are meeting or exceeding the minimum water quality requirements. Up from 95% in 2019, 96% of bathing waters met or exceeded the minimum required standard, and these continued improvements in bathing water quality are welcome and necessary. Excellent work is being carried out by local authorities and other stakeholders on the continued improvements in our bathing water quality. For both local and national tourism, it is important that the network of bathing waters is strengthened and enhanced. For this reason, I was particularly delighted to see two new bathing waters, at Carrigaholt and Quilty, identified in 2020. Credit must go to Clare County Council for its work in making this happen. I encourage all bathers to use the information on the dedicated www.beaches.iewebsite before going swimming and to always follow the advice of the HSE and Department of Health on social distancing protocols when at the beach.

With regard to the bathing waters at Kilkee, despite the complex pressures in the surrounding catchment, the continued rating of excellent - the highest and cleanest class - and the award of another blue flag for the 2021 bathing season is also to be commended. As we can see with the recent specific and temporary bathing prohibition notice that was issued for Kilkee as a result of a burst sewer main, however, ongoing and sustained investment to improve the standard of waste discharge into the environment is required. Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has had sole responsibility for all public water and waste water services, which includes the investment in and planning of all future plants and infrastructure withinIreland. The Minister has no direct role in this matter. Irish Water, working in partnership with Clare County Council, is progressing with the Kilkee sewerage scheme project. This project is currently at detailed design stage and includes the construction of a new waste water treatment plant, the construction of new sewer pipelines and upgrade of the Irish Water combined sewer pumping station.

As mentioned, our entire water system needs substantial and sustained investment over a number of investment cycles to fully improve performance and resilience. In this regard, as part of budget 2021, over €1.4 billion was secured to support water services. This includes €1.3 billion in respect of domestic water services provision by Irish Water. This overall investment will deliver significant improvements in public water and waste water services, support improved water supplies right across Ireland, including rural Ireland, and support a range of programmes delivering improved water quality in our rivers, lakes and marine areas. Water quality in Ireland is facing complex pressures and increasing demands from population change and a previously growing economy that we all hope will continue after we emerge for the current pandemic, as well as from a changing climate, which have been documented. It is certainly the case that this will require sustained investment . We will work with Irish Water and local authorities to achieve this. There is capital investment.The commitment made by the Government shows that we are committed to resolving these issues around the country.