Sinn Féin has hit out over a fine received by Irish Water after it was prosecuted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for failing to ensure sewage waste from a water treatment plant in Co Louth did not cause pollution.

TD Imelda Munster said the company has "only been fined €3,500 combined, despite the fact that each case could carry a maximum fine of €5,000".

She also accused Irish Water of getting away with causing pollution on a reoccurring basis.

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She said: "There have also been calls on many occasions to investigate other areas, such as claimed sewage discharge in Doldrum Bay, Howth. Although the prosecutions have been welcomed, the EPA must go further in ensuring our waters remain pollution free. Repeat offenders must be actively discouraged from polluting and I feel that a combined fine of €3,500 does not have that effect on a company which is willing to spend another €88 million on meters which have the potential to become obsolete.

"I will be raising the issue with the minister via parliamentary questions. I want to know what measures, if any, have been put in place to prevent incidents like these occurring in the future; how stringent these measures are; and have there been other allegations of pollution, and if so, have they been followed up."

(CD/LM)