Joanne Collins (Sinn Fein)

I want to raise today an issue in County Limerick. County Limerick has one tier 2 town, which is Newcastle West. We all know the situation with housing at present and the lack of it in the country. Planning permission was granted in 2023 for 93 houses to be built in Newcastle West and they were commenced in 2024. Work had commenced on a total of 81 of the 93 houses, but several weeks ago all of the tools were put down, the gates were put up and notices were taken off. The advertisement for affordable homes has been closed. This is because the development has run out of water. We have no water in the only tier 2 town in County Limerick. I received notification from Irish Water to state Kilcolman Springs water treatment plant and Tobergal Spring water treatment plant are in development and it is hoped they will be up and running in 2028. The Newcastle West treatment plant is still at the design and planning permission stage. We are looking at 2031 before it goes to tender and we can build one more house in the only tier 2 town in County Limerick. This is absolutely crazy in the middle of a housing crisis and housing emergency. I would love to see whether we could get the Minister for housing to come to the House to discuss the infrastructure around houses, the backlog and whether we can do anything. Irish Water exists outside the council but having two entities does not seem to be working. It needs to be linked back to the local councils. How did Limerick City and County Council grant this planning permission? Did it not discuss with Irish Water whether there would be sewerage issues or enough water in the only tier 2 town in County Limerick? I would like to try to organise the Minister coming to the House for a discussion on it.