Housing Minister Simon Coveney has been urgently called to outline how he plans to fast-track investment in the waste water treatment plants currently in breach of the Urban Waste Water Directive.

Sinn Féin spokesperson on water Eoin Ó Broin TD made the call after it was revealed that a €1 billion worth of investment is now required to bring the plants up to scratch in the 38 agglomerations across the State that are deemed to be in breach of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive.

Deputy Ó Broin said: "Minister Simon Coveney has confirmed that at least €1bn is required to avoid EU fines in our waste water treatment plants. This is the legacy of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael underinvestment in our waste water treatment infrastructure.

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"This figure was confirmed in response to a parliamentary question this week According to the Department of Housing, Irish Water estimate that investment of €1bn in waste water treatment plants is necessary to ensure adequate treatment of waste water from the 38 urban areas currently in breach of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive which has landed this state in the European Court of Justice.

"The Ministers who have had responsibility for this brief in recent years have all failed miserably. Since 2012, Minister's Hogan, Kelly, and now, Minister Coveney have neglected to invest in our water infrastructure and now we will have to pay the price.

"He must provide a timeline for the upgrade of these plants and state how he will ensure that they are compliant with the Urban waste water treatment directive in an effort the mitigate the EU Commission enforcement proceedings currently underway."

(CD/LM)