Aghadoe estates sewer connection
Deputy Healy-Rae says two Killarney estates still lack proper sewer connections despite funding being approved for years. The Taoiseach says the money appears to be allocated and urges the local authority and Uisce Éireann to use common sense and resolve it.
I wish to ask the Taoiseach about a problem we have with two estates in Aghadoe in Killarney. These are the Old Killarney Village and the Birch Hill estate. Their treatment plants are out of date and no longer suitable. For many years, I have been requesting in the House that they be connected to the public sewer. On two occasions, funding has been made available in this regard. Going back a number of years ago, €400,000 was provided. Last year, the then Minister, Deputy O'Brien, committed €998,000. There is €300,000 to be made up by the local authority or someone else, but the local authority has informed me that it is no longer able to deal with these matters or ask for wayleaves and that it is up to Irish Water to do so. There is a stand-off between them now, but the people of these two estates are suffering. There is a pub and a restaurant involved. Last weekend, these septic tanks, or whatever you call them now - treatment plants - flowed over. In this area, you are on top of the hill looking down into the lakes of Killarney. If pollution happens there, it will be detrimental to the whole tourist business in the town of Killarney and far beyond. This is going on for far too long. The money was committed last year. Why is it not being used? Will the Taoiseach intervene and ensure-----
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-----that for once and for all the matter will be resolved? I have been at this for six years and everything is still the same-----
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I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. What is frustrating here is that the money has been allocated it seems to me. The officials on both sides, those in the local authorities and Uisce Éireann, should apply common sense and pragmatism and get this sorted. I ask that this would happen and I will ask the Minister. I met with Uisce Éireann some time back. The Government has increased its allocation and will be increasing it further in terms of additional capital money. This has to be ring-fenced, not just for the general upgrading of the water system but also for new water supply capacity and wastewater treatment, particularly in rural towns and villages across Ireland. Things cannot move at the moment because of capacity limits for wastewater treatment systems and water supply systems. I will follow that up for the Deputy.