Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein)

I am sharing time with Senator Collins. I will speak about two different matters. The first relates to flood defences for water, particularly in my county of Laois, which has been left behind. With Storm Claudia last week, we saw flooding seriously affecting businesses and homes. This is a recurring problem for Mountmellick and Portarlington. OPW projects and planning are moving at a dangerously slow pace. Every time we have a storm, homes and businesses are put at risk. We really have to look at the systems and at fast-tracking these projects. We were told that there was a one-in-100 chance of a storm having such a detrimental effect again. However, only a couple of years later, it has happened again. Rivers were overflowing into people's homes and people were left with homes and business premises that are not fit for purpose.

Water is a fundamental right. It is essential for public health, our communities, local development and our environment. This is why Sinn Féin has been absolutely clear that water services must remain in public ownership and be funded through general taxation, protected from charges and safeguarded as a public good in our Constitution. However, the frustrating and shameful reality is that the infrastructure delivering those services is failing. The system is under enormous pressure. Even Uisce Éireann's chair, Jerry Grant, recently described our water systems as being in a desperate state. This is the result of decades of complacency and underinvestment. This is why it has become an issue up and down the country. We see the effects of that in my county of Laois. Laois is a growing county and yet not a single town there has seen an increase in water supply or capacity since Irish Water was established 11 years ago. I would love it if the Minister of State would comment on that. As a result of that to which I refer, Rathdowney, Portarlington, Mountrath, Ballylynan and Stradbally have reached or exceeded their water capacity. Mountmellick and Graiguecullen are at the limit of wastewater capacity. Borris-in-Ossory, Ballinakill and the Swan have hit their limits for both water and wastewater services.This means new housing is being blocked not by planning objections or lack of land but by the State's failure to invest in basic infrastructure. Communities are being told they cannot grow because the taps and treatment plants cannot cope. That is simply unacceptable.

Counties like Laois must not be left behind when it comes to basic infrastructure like water that will enable us to address the housing crisis. I acknowledge and welcome the planning application put in a few months ago for the upgrade of the Portlaoise wastewater treatment plant, but it is only an application. There is much talk and have been many announcements about plans to upgrade services and bring in new services, but we do not see action. For the people in all the towns I mentioned, announcements of plans and planning applications are one thing but until action is taken, those words do not mean anything to them. Children and families are homeless in communities and people are having to leave because they cannot build or buy a house in their local area.

We must start delivering these services as a matter of real urgency. Housing demand in Laois is unprecedented right now. It is indefensible that delivery of homes continues to be delayed because the State did not expand the water infrastructure in time, especially as we all know how bad the housing crisis is and that it is set to continue for many years. Outside the towns, rural communities face their own crisis, with inadequate or non-existent wastewater treatment stalling construction of one-off homes and impacting communities and enterprises. These areas must not be left behind. I call for more balanced regional development.

Despite Irish Water making clear that it needs additional capital funding, the Government has dragged its feet. Announcements are made but delivery is years behind. When representatives of Uisce Éireann were before the housing committee, they made it clear that if we want to deliver homes, support rural Ireland and protect public health, investment in water and wastewater must be approached as critical national infrastructure just like roads, schools and hospitals. We need more urgency in this matter.