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

We do indeed. That is why the Government has committed a record capital funding in budget 2022 to support Irish Water's capital investment programme. There is significant investment. It will take time for projects once they are brought forward to go through tendering and so on. Once local authorities are working with Irish Water and show ambition around delivering those projects, it is critically important that we do get that infrastructure in place. I have the water quality in Ireland report 2020. There are significant challenges, no doubt, concerning wastewater still discharging into water courses. We want to address them as a matter of priority.

Specifically in respect of the water refill stations, I agree with the Senator. It is very important. There is a commitment in the programme for Government around the roll-out of water refill stations. I commend the Senator for the work she has done in County Clare to highlight that. It is part of our circular economy and part of reducing plastic waste. For young people who use our towns regularly, it gives them an opportunity not to be having to buy bottled water. This infrastructure should be installed and we will certainly make inquiries about that issue. We need refill stations installed as a matter of priority around all of our towns across the country.