The Government is being urged to increase its investment in wastewater treatment to prevent massive EU fines.

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Water Eoin Ó Broin made the call following European Commission's decision in February to launch court proceedings against the state for breaching the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.

He said: "The EPA and Irish Water were invited into the committee as a result of the European Commission decision in February to bring the state to the European Court of Justice for breaching the urban waste-water treatment directive. The state is now potentially facing massive fines as a result of the infringement process currently underway for failing to ensure that urban waste water in 38 urban areas across the state is adequately collected and treated in order to prevent serious risks to human health and the environment.

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"It was disappointing that the Department of Housing was not in attendance at the meeting today as it is the Government that is facing the EU infringement proceedings. The EPA stated that it had concerns about 127 wastewater treatment sites across state.

"Irish Water outlined their plans to bring the 38 treatment plants up to an adequate standard by 2021. However, during questioning, it was not clear whether their investment programme is sufficient to achieve this.

"I am concerned that the level of investment provided to 2021 to fix these plants will not be enough to address the serious health and environmental issues arising from the ongoing breaches of our wastewater treatment obligations."

(CD/MH)