Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator O'Reilly in his comments on the shortage of work permits. There is a shortage across all enterprises in Ireland. I ask the Leader to raise the matter with the relevant Minister because a solution is badly needed.

I call for a debate on Irish Water. It is now six or seven years since the organisation was set up and it would be timely to have a debate on it in the House. Between 2021 and 2025, €6 billion will be spent on water services infrastructure the length and breadth of the country. How is further expansion planned? Does the issue come up at local authority meetings? I do not see it raised in the Houses of the Oireachtas. Local councillors know exactly where growth is taking place. I often wonder how one would apply for an extension to a sewerage or water scheme and how applications progress from the point where such works are needed to the planning stage. I do not see any great strategy or purpose in how things are done. I do not think this issue is being raised at local authority meetings. I would like a debate on it because a significant sum of money, €6 billion, will be spent on water infrastructure in the next four years. We could have a review of Irish Water, ask how it has progressed, the amount of money it has saved and the advances it has made over the past six or seven years. I would welcome a debate on this issue.