Aubrey McCarthy (Independent)

I thank the Minister of State for being here. He is very welcome to the Seanad, and I welcome the opportunity to contribute to today's statements on Irish Water, Uisce Éireann.

I emphasise the critical role, as the Minister of State himself has mentioned, that Uisce Éireann plays in enabling the delivery of new homes. We all know that housing is the defining social and economic challenge of our time. This morning I was at the audiovisual room briefing with the IPAV, at which examples were given as to how property developments are being delayed. One example was given by a developer. He said there is a 125 m waterline to be put in between 75 houses and the proper Uisce Éireann infrastructure. He received a quote from a developer-builder who puts in waterlines and it was €1,000 per metre, that is, €125,000. However, the regulation states he has to go by Uisce Éireann. Uisce Éireann then gave him a quote of over €500,000. That was the debate in the audiovisual room today.

We all know that, across the country, housing projects are being delayed, and it has been mentioned in this House many times, because of the lack of water and infrastructure and it cannot keep pace with demand. I am on the housing committee and we have had Uisce Éireann in and we have seen that many essential projects are drifting, such as the greater Dublin city drainage project, which has been delayed for years. The Shannon-to-Dublin water supply project, without which Dublin faces a critical shortage, has come up many times. Strategic trunk mains and regional upgrades are long overdue across the country. If these projects are truly national priorities, we need full Government backing and legislation to protect them from further delays. There are 20-, 30- and 40-year-old assets that, as the Minister of State has mentioned, need to be updated. They cannot be at the mercy of short-term politics or endless procedural cycles. Their funding and approval timelines must be ring-fenced and protected by law.

Local authorities and developers repeatedly highlight that the single biggest constraint on housing delivery is the availability of serviced land, tier 1 land. Without adequate water and wastewater capacity, planning permissions cannot be activated and communities are left waiting. If we are serious about meeting the Housing for All targets that were announced by the Minister, Deputy James Browne, last week, which are really encouraging, then Irish Water must be resourced and mandated to prioritise the expansion of infrastructure in the growth areas. This is not simply just about pipes and treatment plants; it is about ensuring that families can move into homes, that towns and villages can thrive and that Ireland can meet its obligation to provide shelter for all.

At the same time, the Minister of State mentioned the quality of water, and we cannot lose sight of the quality of water that flows into these homes I have mentioned. The most recent Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, report shows that half our rivers, lakes and estuaries fail to meet good ecological status. We regularly see boil water notices and they remain in place in several communities. Cryptosporidium outbreaks remind us of the risks when infrastructure lags behind.

Irish Water has made progress, and that must be mentioned, in upgrading treatment plants and reducing the number of schemes on the EPA's remedial action list, but challenges remain. Nutrient pollution from agriculture, combined with inadequate wastewater treatment in certain areas, continues to undermine water quality. This has knock-on effects for biodiversity, which has been mentioned in this House many times, for public health and for Ireland's compliance with EU directives.

I ask the Minister of State to address the task, which is twofold: to ensure that Irish Water can deliver the infrastructure necessary for housing and to guarantee that the water supply is safe and clean but also sustainable. Investment must be accelerated, planning must be streamlined and collaboration with farmers, communities and NGOs must be deepened.

I acknowledge the announcement of the Minister, Deputy Browne, last week that, under the housing plan, an additional €12.2 billion will be invested in water services. This is a significant and a very welcome commitment. Such a level of funding will not only accelerate housing delivery, I believe, but also ensure that serviced land is available. It will also modernise and expand our water infrastructure nationwide.

Another issue that always comes to the fore is zoning and servicing and the gridlock that happens there. Councils will not zone land - I know this from my own area - unless Uisce Éireann confirms capacity. Uisce Éireann cannot confirm capacity without the proper funding, so it is like a catch-22. That is a gridlock that certainly needs to be addressed, and I believe the Minister, Deputy Browne, will do that.

Housing and water are inseparable, and families cannot move into homes without reliable services. Those services must meet the highest standards of quality. I urge the Government to give Irish Water the resources and authority it needs to deliver both homes for our people and clean water for our community.

I am not too sure if the Minister of State knows, but today is World Toilet Day. Clean water and so on is essential for every aspect of what we have in our house.