The 2019 Environmental Protection Agency report reveals that raw sewage is being released into the environment every day, with coastal areas being the worst affected. In County Louth six areas have been identified and need investment badly. These are Blackrock, Castlebellingham, Dunleer, Omeath, Tallanstown and Dundalk. Omeath is still without a wastewater treatment plant. Blackrock and Dundalk are not meeting their legal requirement. Rivers and waterways are also under pressure. What plans does the Government have to combat this? This is not acceptable in these times. Can the Tánaiste please let us have an update on the situation in County Louth.

On this issue generally, our plan is to invest billions of euro in wastewater treatment facilities through Irish Water, and to do that efficiently. As we speak, that is transforming Cork Harbour, for example, which was one of the most negatively-impacted marine environments in the country regarding raw sewage. Irish Water is spending more than €90 million in putting in place a very comprehensive wastewater facility for the harbour. I presume it will also get to other parts of the country. It is not acceptable to be pumping raw sewage into marine environments. Wastewater treatment facilities are expensive and take time. Irish Water has a very significant capital expenditure programme over the next five to six years to address many of the issues the Deputy outlined.