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

The Senator is correct. It is collective responsibility. It is not just that of Irish Water. We are embarking on a whole new cycle of river basin management plans, the public consultation for which will commence shortly, and on marine protected areas. There is a lot of work we must do collectively. The Government is committed to working in partnership with Irish Water to resolve these infrastructural deficits that have existed for far too long and have caused the significant problems in Kilkee.

There is an update on the specific incident over the weekend, which the Senator referred to. The sewer, which is the foul rising main, that burst in Kilkee, County Clare, did so at 2 p.m. on Saturday, 29 May. There is no effect on the beach for now because flow has been diverted to the storm rising main and the dam in the Victoria stream, which flows onto the beach. This has been in place since earlier this week. Irish Water has tankers on standby to assist if needed. The break in the rising main is located in the caravan park, and has been traced to a location under an occupied caravan. The caravan will be vacated tomorrow evening and moved for repair to start on Monday morning. Irish Water has notified the EPA as a prosecution.

I acknowledge the challenges this has created, including the disruption to business and the concerns for public health. We are working and putting every effort in to try to resolve the issue as a matter of urgency.