Róisín Garvey (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to hear that better funding than ever before is being given to Irish Water for capital funding. That is very positive news. I do not accept that the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, can say that he has no direct role in this matter. This keeps happening: we set up some sort of semi-State agency and we then say it is all their fault. People blame Irish Water all the time but what of the State? Even I as a legislator feel slightly responsible for what is happening in Kilkee. The Minister cannot just say it is up to Irish Water and that he has given them loads of money. This has been going on for quite a long time. While there is an older legacy issue there, and I cannot blame it all on the new Ministers, we must take responsibility as legislators. We cannot just say that Irish Water has been given the money and that is the end of that. Irish Water was also given the money for this four years ago and it did not happen. Now we are told it is in the plans but there is no definite date. I appreciate the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, coming to the House. I appreciate that Irish Water has been given bigger funding than ever before. That gives me hope.