Unsewered villages investment scheme
Deputy Dolan presses for the delayed sewerage investment scheme for villages such as Craughwell and Clarinbridge. The Tánaiste agrees the delay is unacceptable and attributes it to bureaucracy and stakeholder difficulties.
The programme for Government sets out a clear commitment to bringing in an unsewered villages scheme. In 2022, a fantastic investment of €50 million was announced to bring some of these villages that do not have sewage facilities back into use, such as Craughwell and Clarinbridge in Galway. These were fantastic announcements. Three years on, however, we do not have plans, sites or, ultimately, execution. When is the Government going to bring forward the renewed sewerage investment scheme for unsewered villages?
It is important for me to say that right now, in counties like Galway, there is an artificial constrain on land supply. As a result, prices of homes in Athenry, Loughrea and Gort are going up. Our villages have not seen homes built in more than 15 years.
I would appreciate any commitment that can be given to investigate why Craughwell and Clarinbridge have seen no action to date, because we have had the money in place for three years. It is an opportunity to make it happen.
Comment on this
I thank Deputy Dolan. He is entirely right on this. I remember vividly the day the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, in his former role brought these proposals to Cabinet. It was seen as a reforming step to identify that there were a number of relatively small villages and townlands that would take forever and a day to get there through the traditional Irish Water way and to put ring-fenced funding in place.
It is appalling that this has taken so long. It is an example of where bureaucracy, red tape and sometimes a lack of willingness from various stakeholders have led to this. I will ask the Minister to get back directly to the Deputy about Craughwell and Clarinbridge. I know this is a particular issue in east Galway because I read some data about a number of townlands and villages there where, as a result of this, no houses can be built in the middle of a housing crisis.
Directly in response to the other two points, as a result of the NDP. investment plans will be published by all Ministers in the coming weeks, showing exactly what the additional money for water and sewerage will be able to do. As a condition of giving Irish Water a hell of a lot more public money, we have said it needs to get on and allow developer-led infrastructure schemes as well. It is really important that it now deliver on that commitment.