Wastewater Treatment

I wish to speak on behalf of the residents and businesses in Newport who have endured the most horrendous situation, where untreated wastewater is being pumped into Clew Bay on a daily basis, yet despite this, the businesses of Newport continue to be billed for charges in relation to wastewater from Uisce Éireann. Many constituents have asked me how can the State demand payment for a service when the infrastructure underpinning that service is so incredibly inadequate. In fact, it is non-existent. If a farmer or any other member of society had such blatant disregard and pumped pollution over a fence, they would be fined and they would go to jail for it. This matter has gone on far too long. It is going on for decades, and that is what is happening. Newport is blessed with one of the most beautiful coastlines in the country. It is a beautiful town overlooking Clew Bay, yet there is a bitter irony for the residents who pay wastewater charges. They cannot enjoy the bay or all of the leisure and economic activities that could come with living in such a beautiful area. It is essentially like a publican charging a customer for an empty pint glass. That is what Uisce Éireann is doing here. It is charging businesses in Newport for wastewater services that are simply not delivered. I call on the Minister of State to examine the situation and to introduce a temporary reduction or rebate scheme in relation to wastewater charges to residents and the business community until Uisce Éireann delivers on what is far overdue – a wastewater system that is capable of dealing with the demands of the town.

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter in relation to Newport and wider infrastructure and wastewater in County Mayo. At the outset, I advise that Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local level. Neither the Minister, Deputy Browne, nor I have operational function in local issues in Mayo to which the Deputy referred. Both our water and wastewater systems require substantial and sustained investment over a number of investment cycles to bring the system up to the quality and standards required of a modern service to provide for population growth and build resilience in the face of climate change. I acknowledge as a member of Government that we have to sustain the investment we are continuing to put into Uisce Éireann in this respect. It should also be noted that since the establishment of Uisce Éireann, significant improvements have been made in the delivery of water services with the help of contractors and subcontractors. Hundreds of water and wastewater treatment plants have been upgraded along with thousands of kilometres of new or rehabilitated water mains installed. The national leakage rate has been reduced and the overall quality of drinking water remains very high in this country. Uisce Éireann has steadily grown its capital investment in our water infrastructure, from €300 million in 2014 to €1.4 billion as part of budget 2026. This investment will deliver significant improvements in our public water and wastewater services, support improved water supplies right across Ireland, including rural Ireland, and support a range of programmes delivering improved water quality in our rivers, lakes and marine area, making a significant contribution to addressing Ireland's needs. That being said, I have made inquiries in relation to the items raised by the Deputy. It is worth noting that significant progress is being made on projects across County Mayo with investment of €114.8 million in water and wastewater infrastructure planned from 2025 to 2029. Works are continuing at Claremorris Wastewater Treatment Plant, where an €18 million upgrade commenced late last year. An upgrade of Ballyhaunis Wastewater Treatment Plant will provide capacity increase from 4,000 population equivalent, PE, to 6,600 PE. The total estimated cost of that project is €15 miIlion and Uisce Éireann plans to commence its construction next year. Two of the largest drinking water infrastructure projects currently being advanced are the Ballina and Lough Talt water supply upgrade and the €29 million upgrade of the Lough Mask Water Treatment Plant. Specifically on Newport, the treatment plant is one of the key wastewater projects in the Uisce Éireann programme. A programme of survey and data collection works are currently under way, which will provide essential information to support technical assessments, environmental evaluations and the preparation of a maritime area consent, MAC, application. Securing this consent is a significant project milestone and must be achieved before a planning application for the proposed wastewater treatment plant can be submitted. My Fine Gael colleagues in Mayo have engaged extensively with me in relation to the delays in the maritime usage licence, MUL, process. The difficulties have been ironed out in that respect, as the Deputy will be aware, and these have been largely resolved at MARA level. It is the intention that this will be progressed to MAC by the end of this year.

My question is a very simple one. It is not whether or not Uisce Éireann has the authority to issue bills but whether it is fair and proportionate. Does the Government believe it is fair to issue bills for wastewater services to a community that cannot avail of those services and which has been so badly treated in relation to the wastewater treatment plant? This is a community that has been given the runaround for far too long. I have worked on this tirelessly since getting elected in meeting MARA, Uisce Éireann and politicians, and pushing this. The responses have been unacceptable for far too long with each agency passing the buck to another and each Government politician passing the buck to someone else. That is what has happened here. I very much welcome that there has been movement finally but at the moment there are businesses being charged for wastewater facilities. It is akin to a waste management company collecting your bin, dumping it in the neighbour’s place next door and charging you for it. That is what is happening. Is it fair? Will the Minister of State examine the possibility of a suspension for the businesses affected in Newport?

It is unacceptable that any wastewater treatment plant in the country is having a negative impact on the environment. That is why we are investing significant sums of money, as I outlined, in County Mayo and right across the country in order to try to address those matters. The Deputy said he has engaged on these items. I can tell him what I have done as Minister of State. I have had a number of engagements with MARA to try to iron out the issues in relation to the MUL system where there were significant backlogs, including the Newport treatment plant MUL applications with MARA. We have ensured that Uisce Éireann is able to progress its applications in terms of MUL and MAC in a much speedier fashion. That is a really positive thing not just for the Newport wastewater treatment plant but also for wastewater treatment plants right across the country.

Will the Minister of State answer the question?

It is the intention of Uisce Éireann to ensure it has the MAC application in by the end of quarter 4. It is also important to note that it is simultaneously working on progressing the design in relation to the treatment plant. That is what we want to see as a Government. We want to ensure we have projects that are progressing, not only so that when one stage ends another starts. We want to have simultaneous work ongoing across all of our agencies-----

The question is on wastewater bills.

----because you have to do more than one thing at a time. That is what is happening here with Uisce Éireann and its ability to be able to progress the design in relation to this project while awaiting and submitting the documentation in relation to the MAC application.

Will the Minister of State answer the question?