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The government has been called to urgently invest in the wastewater infrastructure in Ireland.
Sinn Fein made the call after a report by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) revealed that wastewater treatment in 50 of Ireland's large towns and cities fail to comply with standards set to prevent pollution and protect public health.
The 'Urban Waste Water Treatment' report found that waste water treatment is wholly inadequate in many areas and that significant funding is required to remedy the legacy of underinvestment in our infrastructure.
The party's spokesperson on Water Eoin Ó Broin TD said: "The EPA appeared before the Housing Committee in May and outlined to the members just how serious the problem with our waste water treatment services is. At this meeting, we were told that only €620m would be made available between 2017 and 2021 to fix this problem. Previous parliamentary question responses from former Minister Coveney indicated that €1 billion was needed to bring the infrastructure up to an adequate standard.
"The government isn't treating this problem with the urgency it deserves. Due to the government’s ongoing failure to act on this matter, the State is being brought to the European Court of Justice for breaching the urban waste water treatment directive.
"The EU Commission commenced infringement proceedings against Ireland in September 2013. This was followed up with warnings in September 2015 and September 2016.
"The State could be liable for huge fines as a result of the infringement process currently underway for failing to ensure that urban waste water in 38 urban areas is effectively collected and treated."
Mr Gerard O’Leary, Director of the EPA's Office of Environmental Enforcement said: "Wastewater from over half our population failed to meet environmental standards. For many years Ireland failed to address the deficiencies in wastewater treatment. Substantial and sustained investment is now required to protect our valuable waterways and protect public health."
(CD/MH)
