Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate – Dáil Éireann (33rd Dáil) – Thursday, 9 Mar 2023

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate

Schools Building Projects

Deputy John Lahart

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for affording me the opportunity to raise this matter and I thank the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, for his presence. It is very much appreciated. This Government has a very good record with regard to school construction and building, not least in my own constituency of Dublin South-West. I can point to a number of schools that have been built and completed in the lifetime of this Government. They include Kingswood Community College in Tallaght, which is a state-of-the-art community college - Sancta Maria College in Ballyroan is a denominational school, where the contractors may have run into some difficulty - and Saplings Special School, which the Department of Education has agreed to purchase on behalf of the State. There are a number of Educate Together school buildings in Citywest, Firhouse and Ballycullen, where there is a state-of-the-art temporary building housing an Educate Together post-primary school at present. New education and training board, ETB, national schools have been built in Citywest and Tallaght and there is an ETB post-primary school planned for the Citywest area. In addition, there are two brand-spanking-new Gaelscoileanna, Gaelscoil Chnoc Liamhna agus Gaelscoil na Giúise, which was built three years ago. The Government has a very good record.

What I am raising with the Minister of State today is the desire to keep that record ongoing and to raise a number of school projects that are in the pipeline and on which progress may have stalled somewhat. Boards of management and the school community are anxious to know what the state of play is with them. Those projects include Coláiste Pobail Fóla in Citywest, where a brand new building has been applied for and St. Aidan's Community School in Tallaght, which would have been one of the flagship community schools back in the 1980s but is very much in need of complete replacement. It is costing the State quite a bit, as it does with a number of other schools built in that time, just to refurbish and maintain it. The Minister, Deputy Foley, visited Tallaght Community School last year. The school thought it was getting refurbishments and renovations but, to its great surprise, the Department correctly deemed it would be much more economic to demolish the school and build a state-of-the-art school there. It is awaiting news on that. Solas Chríost National School in Belgard and Holy Family Community School in Rathcoole are waiting news about commencement of building works. St. Pius X, a junior and national school in Templeogue, in my constituency, is awaiting news of what exactly the situation is with its position on the major school works capital programme. Sancta Maria Community College is an incomplete project. There are outstanding works to be done.

In addition, if these projects commence, they will have positive implications for the provision of autism spectrum disorder places in each of the schools because the new schools, in particular, will provide additional special classes. There is quite a bit of work.

The final request, which I ask the Minister of State to bring back to the Minister on my behalf, is for the Minister to visit St. Aidan's Community School in Tallaght. It has substantial lands and some very exciting works could be done in conjunction with the Department, the local authority and the school community.

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Kieran O'Donnell)

I will give this response on behalf of the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, as it gives me the opportunity to provide an update to the House on the current position regarding the school building programme and a number of school building projects, which are on hold from proceeding to either tender or construction due to capital funding pressures.

The Department’s capital allocation has always been under significant pressure and it has a strong track record of fully utilising it and, in many years, requiring supplementary capital funding to deliver urgently required school building projects. Pressures on the capital allocation have been compounded since the national development plan, NDP, allocations were determined in 2021 by the impact of high construction inflation, the increasing prevalence of autism and other complex special education needs, which requires the accelerated delivery of special educational needs provision at pace and the urgent need to provide capacity for students from Ukraine and other countries under the international protection system.

The national priority within the NDP for increasing the roll-out of housing is also adding to pressures on the Department’s capital allocation, given the knock-on impact for additional school provision requirements. The Department's published NDP allocation for 2023 is €860 million. As part of its planning ahead for 2023, the Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform with regard to capital funding pressures in order to continue to be able to adequately support the operation of the school system, with roll-out of school building projects to tender and construction in 2023, including the projects referenced in recent media reports.

More than 180 school building projects were delivered during 2022, which included accelerated delivery of modular accommodation to support provision for 900 pupils with special educational needs. Approximately 300 school building projects continued in construction at the start of 2023, most of which will be completed in 2023 and early 2024. They include more than 40 new school buildings, some of which the Deputy has referenced. All of these projects are helping to support the operation of our schools, are delivering to the highest standards and are very energy efficient. This strong level of delivery is a key driver of capital pressures in the Department. Some 73% of the NDP allocation for 2023 is needed to cover expenditure on contractual commitments on approximately 300 existing projects at construction carried forward from 2022. Other key achievements under the school building programme in 2022 include strategic initiatives put in place to support planning for school provision requirements and also the setting up of 16 regional education and language teams.

Deputy Kieran O'Donnell

I assure Deputy Lahart that the Department and the Minister are very conscious of the need to continue to support the operation of the schools system and intend to provide clarity to individual schools on school building projects that are on hold as quickly as possible. As the Deputy noted, discussions are ongoing between the Department of Education and the Minister and the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform with regard to capital funding pressures. I expect that everything is being done to conclude those discussions and bring about certainty in respect of these school building projects. These particular financial pressures have resulted in the need for the Department of Education's planning and building unit to assess its work programme priorities for 2023 in the context of available funding. That review is ongoing, as are discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, whose enhanced title refers to its delivery of the NDP. Key priorities for the Department's work programme including continuing strong delivery to support the operation of the schools system with particular regard to planning ahead for the 2023 school year and beyond and supporting special needs provision. The Deputy highlighted six schools in his constituency in which there are current projects. As I said, I will bring these to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Foley, and ask her to respond directly with an update and to visit St. Aidan's Community School in Tallaght. The focus is now on finalising discussions between the Department of Education, the Minister and the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform so that these school building projects can continue as quickly as possible.

Schools Building Projects

Deputy Ged Nash

I mean no disrespect to the Minister of State when I say that it is disappointing that a Minister from the Department of Education could not here to take this matter or the preceding one. There is a Minister from the Department in the building, but clearly she is otherwise occupied.

I was made aware early this week that, towards the end of last week, Ardee Educate Together National School received confirmation from the Department of Education that its new school project has been postponed. Last August, local Government party representatives appeared in the local media to tell us all that the school would proceed to construction shortly. They were not dreaming this up but had been told by the Minister for Education. However, this project has yet again been thwarted.

I will give the Minister of State a potted history of the project. Back in 2011, at a time of great difficulty for this country, I worked with the then Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn, to have this project sanctioned. The Labour Minister sanctioned it in 2011. Some 12 years on and five Ministers for Education later, the school has been told that the project will again be long-fingered, along with many other important projects around the country. To say that the principal, board and parents of the school are incandescent with rage is not an understatement. I am absolutely infuriated as well. This is a project on which I worked closely with successive Ministers. I am particularly determined to see it over the line because the school is operating in what I can only describe as Dickensian circumstances. That is it, plain and simple. There are 208 students, now accommodated on two sites across the road from one another. The junior element of the school occupies a very old building dating back to 1812 that is simply not fit for purpose. Nobody could ever pretend that it is. On the other side of the road, third-, fourth-, fifth- and sixth-class students are accommodated in part of a converted warehouse previously owned by a furniture company. The warehouse accommodation works better for the school and the unused portion could, in the interim, accommodate the rest of the school. The principal would favour moving the junior element of the school over to what is left of the warehouse to accompany the other students. The school board is meeting this afternoon to discuss that very issue.

The principal told us today that she is sick of it and that a new school is not going to be built so the junior element should at least be moved into the warehouse in the meantime. She spoke about the cost of heating the prefabs and said that at least in the warehouse the children do not have to wear their coats in the classroom. To receive the kind of information the principal received this week in the middle of a very difficult cold snap has added to the school's frustrations. The principal, the school staff, parents and the entire school community are at the end of their tether. The school also accommodates four special classes for children with autism. Nobody could say that the conditions they are in are satisfactory. It is not appropriate to be accommodating anyone, let alone children who have autism, in a situation like this.

The builder was ready to go the week after St. Patrick's Day. The project was proceeding to construction but is now being pulled. I remind the Minister that this school was first approved in 2011 and, five or six Ministers for Education on, it is being pulled again. Will the Minister of State give me an update on when it will proceed? I know a review is taking place but it is simply not good enough given what we heard from the Minister last August about the project proceeding to construction this year.

Deputy Kieran O'Donnell

I thank Deputy Nash. I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Education, who is unable be here. I can understand the frustration of the principal of Ardee Educate Together National School. I know the great work Educate Together schools do nationally.

I thank Deputy Nash for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House the current position as to the development of the new school building for Ardee Educate Together National School. The brief for this major school building project is to provide an eight-classroom school with an additional four-classroom special educational needs base included. As the Deputy stated, the school already provides that service. Responsibility for the delivery of this project has been devolved to Louth County Council, which will act as the contracting authority for the project. The project is currently at tender stage, which is a very critical point in the process.

The Department of Education is experiencing capital pressures. These pressures on the capital allocation have been compounded since the NDP allocations were determined in 2021 by the impact of high construction inflation, the increasing prevalence of autism and other complex special education needs which requires the accelerated delivery of special educational needs provision at pace, and the urgent need to provide capacity for students from Ukraine and other countries under the international protection system. The national priority within the NDP to increase the roll-out of housing is also adding to pressures on the Department’s capital allocation given the knock-on impact for additional school provision requirements. The Department's published NDP allocation for 2023 is €860 million. As part of its planning ahead for 2023, the Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform on funding for various school projects.

We hope that they will be concluded relatively soon.

On the project itself, the brief for the school is for eight classrooms with four classrooms with a special educational needs, SEN, base included. This was upgraded from two to four SEN-based classrooms in December 2020 following consultation between the Department, Louth County Council, the school and its design team. However, I understand from Deputy Nash's initial contribution that four special education classes are being provided in the school at present, so it is obvious that is what would be required. The enrolment increased from 177 in 2020 to 187 in 2021 and 198 in 2022. Deputy Nash referred to there being 208 students currently, with four special classrooms for children with autism.

The Department states that it is a challenging project to plan, as significant archaeological finds have been recorded in and around the vicinity of the site. There is also a need to carefully plan and design the site's road access from the N52. This prolonged the planning process, but planning permission was granted in July 2018. The Department is engaging to facilitate the provision of sufficient school places for all children, including those with special educational needs, for the coming 2023 to 2024 school year. The Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in regard to capital funding pressures in order to continue to be able to adequately support the operation of the school system with the roll-out of the school building project to tender and construction in 2023 and to minimise project delays to the greatest extent possible. It is hoped that the discussions will conclude reasonably quickly and that the building of the school can proceed as planned.

Deputy Ged Nash

I thank the Minister of State very much indeed for his response. It is appreciated, but in some ways we are none the wiser.

I do not have a colleague who has not mentioned a school - indeed it is four schools in the constituency of my party leader, Deputy Bacik - that has not been affected. Councillor Fiona Bonfield spoke to me about Newport College in Tipperary, which is an area with which the Minister of State will be familiar given that it is in a neighbouring constituency. The school is overcrowded and requires these resources to develop and evolve.

The devolved process that was announced some years ago by the Department to engage with the local authorities to make processes more efficient are all well and good on paper. I do not believe that any of delays we are talking about here are down to Louth County Council. The schools were blindsided by the announcement last week. Today, my colleague, Deputy Ó Ríordáin, demanded a list from the Department of the 58 schools affected and the 29 that are most directly affected, including Ardee Educate Together National School. If the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, understood the circumstances in which the school is operating and if the Minister for Education understood in more detail the circumstances in which the school is operating, nobody in their right mind would continue to delay this project. The school is operating out of building dating back to 1812. The oldest of the prefabs on site is 20 years old. I have previously been informed about rat infestations, dampness and cold. This is an economy that is doing well. We had a surplus last year of almost €6 billion and we are constantly told that this economy is doing well, but our society is not. When people see school projects being delayed, partly because of construction inflation, they ask questions about how the Department of Education is functioning. To the credit of the current Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael McGrath, his announcement last year on burden-sharing with contractors, if we can call it that, was interesting, in terms of delivering national development programme projects. How will that operate in the context of the school programme? In other words, will the Department absorb some of the additional cost that will accrue because of increases in construction cost inflation? Is the Minister of State aware how that will work and how it will be applied to these projects in education?

Deputy Kieran O'Donnell

I will respond to the two main points raised by Deputy Nash. The Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, and her Department are fully committed to the provision of the new school building for Ardee Educate Together National School. In the wider context, I assure the Deputy that the Department is very conscious of the need to continue to support the operation of the school system and intends to provide clarity for individual schools about their school building projects that are on hold, as quickly as possible. We hope that the review with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform will conclude reasonably quickly, which will provide clarity.

Deputy Nash referred to Newport College. I am familiar with the project as Newport is in my constituency. There was a revision of the public procurement framework for building. I do not know that will work in the current context but I suspect it is a general national development that will apply to capital projects. The most important point is that the Minister for Education is determined to provide clarity to schools reasonably quickly. Discussions are ongoing with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and we hope they will conclude pretty quickly. In the specific case raised by the Deputy of Ardee Educate Together National School, the hope is that the principal, staff, students and parents will have their school building project going to tender and built as quickly as possible.

Health Services Staff

Deputy Colm Burke

The need for a discussion on the regulation of psychologists was precipitated by an RTÉ programme by Barry O'Kelly in recent days which raised serious concerns about what is occurring. There is no regulation or State registration. We set up CORU in 2007 for the regulation of healthcare providers and, unfortunately, psychologists do not at present come in under its remit. Clear evidence was provided in the programme of a person who presented themselves as having a qualification, who was employed by the HSE. The person was also registered with the Psychological Society of Ireland, although they did not have the required qualifications.

This issue goes back as far as 2012 and although we are now ten years on, we still do not have a system for the registration of the people who are supposedly investigating people who have a health issue that needs to be properly assessed and a report presented. We cannot allow this to continue. The issue must be addressed immediately. We must put the regulation in place, but we also need CORU to put in place a system whereby it will review all the qualifications and make sure that people are properly qualified. In the case presented by RTÉ, it was clear the person's paper qualification was fraudulent. The person operated as if they were qualified, but they were not and did not have any qualification. Could the Minister of State confirm to the House that immediate action will be taken to regulate this sector so that people can feel safe when a family member is assessed by someone who is putting themselves forward as being qualified?

Deputy Pauline Tully

Many of us watched the RTÉ programme that was screened on Monday night on the fact that psychology services in Ireland are not regulated. No State regulations exist, so anyone can set themselves up with fake documentation and claim to be a psychologist. The programme showed that this could be done very easily. We know of at least one person who did this.

This is very concerning because we have 12,000 children on a waiting list for assessment of need, and we have 4,300 children waiting to see a psychologist. The HSE is failing in its duty, as is the Department of Health, to provide those services in the public sector, which all of those children are entitled to. This leaves the system open to charlatans taking advantage of vulnerable children, vulnerable adults and their families, many of whom are at their wits' end because they cannot get the services that their child deserves and needs.

Children are suffering as a result and untold damage is being done. The waiting list and the inaction of the HSE over so many years are leaving the system open to anybody to claim to be a psychologist within the private sector, and that is adding insult to injury. Families should not be forced to go public, bare their souls and tell their stories but they feel they have no other way of getting the services their children need. That is not fair.

There are two issues, the first of which relates to the failure of the Government to regulate psychologists properly within the private sector. The Psychologists Registration Board was established five years ago and still has not determined what the regulations should be. Obviously, CORU cannot regulate until that work has been done by the board. The second issue relates to the significant failure by the HSE to provide the services the children require. Were the HSE doing its job properly and providing the services children need for both assessments of need and the follow-up interventions, parents would not be forced down the road of seeking private assessment and private intervention and would not face the possibility of being defrauded by someone posing as a psychologist.

Deputy Kieran O'Donnell

I thank Deputies Colm Burke and Tully for affording me the opportunity to address the House on this important issue, which is of great concern to the parents involved and has a big impact on their children.

CORU was established under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 to protect the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct, education and training among health and social care professionals. CORU’s regulatory model is based on the protection of title. Once a profession has been regulated, it becomes a criminal offence to use a professional title if the person is not a CORU registrant. Each profession has its own independent registration board, which is provided with statutory powers to implement regulation for that profession. Registration boards are responsible for establishing a register, approving and monitoring education and training programmes, and setting standards. Each board has 13 members and a lay majority.

Regulating a new profession is a complex and lengthy process, requiring careful consideration and preparatory work to ensure it will be effective in protecting the public. Psychology has been uniquely challenging due to the diversity of its specialisms and the fact there is no common education pathway or standards for entry to the profession. Entry to practice as a psychologist is currently defined by specialist postgraduate education. By establishing a common minimum threshold for entry to a single register for psychology, the Psychologists Registration Board, PSRB, would be creating a generalist role of psychologist, which currently does not exist. This would have significant implications, including on educational pathways leading to qualification.

The PSRB, established in 2017, has worked assiduously to develop standards of proficiency and criteria for education and training for the profession. These standards and criteria were the subject of a public consultation in 2020 that revealed significant concerns and a lack of consensus among the various psychology specialisms regarding how to proceed with regulation. Key areas of disagreement relate to the minimum level of qualification to be required, appropriate placement settings and the number of placement hours.

Having reached an impasse, CORU wrote to the Minister for Health on behalf of the PSRB in 2021 seeking guidance on how to proceed. The Minister replied to CORU in August 2022 requesting that the PSRB consider a dual-stream and phased approach to regulating the profession, which would allow the PSRB to prioritise regulating psychology specialisms that present the greatest risk to public safety, while simultaneously continuing to work towards the long-term objective of protecting the title of psychologist. On 3 March 2023, CORU wrote to the Minister on behalf of the PSRB with its recommendations for which specialisms should be prioritised for regulation. The Minister for Health is reviewing these recommendations with a view to progressing this work as quickly as possible.

Owing to the complexity of the work the PSRB must undertake, I am not, regrettably, in a position to say with any degree of accuracy when the profession of psychology will be fully regulated. I understand the PSRB will require a number of years to complete this work, but the Minister for Health and the Government remain fully committed to delivering regulation of the profession. I note the points Deputy Tully raised in respect of general care provided by the HSE, and what Deputy Colm Burke outlined in depth regarding CORU.

Deputy Colm Burke

I fully accept that the area is complex, and I have stated as much in discussions with Ministers over the past two days. Nevertheless, a danger exists, as was highlighted in the "RTÉ Investigates" programme. Somebody who is holding themselves out as having a qualification can give a written report that can be used in planning out the programme of care for a young person or child, and that is the danger. The PSRB was established in 2017, more than five years ago. We now need to move on. I do not want to have to come back to the House this time next year and raise the same questions. This needs to be given priority, with resources put in to ensure a structure of regulation and governance will deal with the issue. Psychology is too important to be allowed to go unregulated.

Deputy Pauline Tully

The Minister of State outlined that a public consultation had been held in 2020 and that it had been difficult to find consensus on a common education pathway and standards for entry into the profession. What I and many others want to know is why it has taken so long to hold that consultation. CORU, as he noted, was set up in 2005 and it has been almost six years since the Psychologists Registration Board was established. Why is the consultation taking place only now?

The Psychological Society of Ireland, PSI, also has concerns about some of the proposals and has stated it is imperative the title of psychologist become a legally protected title without further delay. It does not want clinical psychologists, for example, taking precedence over other specialisms such as child psychologists, because it believes that also would be open to abuse. Has the Minister for Health or CORU consulted the PSI on this issue?

Can I take it that the Minister and CORU will soon meet to discuss the matter? It has to happen soon because the delay in regulating the psychology profession is putting children at risk. It is harming them and leaving many behind.

Deputy Kieran O'Donnell

Establishing a register for the psychology profession is a strategic priority to which the Minister for Health is fully committed. He has asked his officials, along with the PSRB and CORU, to progress this work as soon as possible to deliver regulation of this important profession. His Department and the two organisations are actively engaging on the matter.

On the issue of the public consultation, the PSRB was established in 2017 and works in what is, obviously, a complicated area. It worked on the standards and went to public consultation in 2020. While I do not know the precise details, I assume that took three years after the board had been formed because the area is deemed, by common consensus, to be a complicated one that requires careful consideration.

Fundamentally, this is a strategic priority for the Minister for Health to which he is fully committed, and he has asked his officials and the PSRB and CORU to progress this work as soon as possible to deliver regulation of this important profession. I will convey the Deputies' points and concerns to the Minister.

Wastewater Treatment

Deputy Michael McNamara

I would normally complain if the Minister from the relevant Department were not here to take my Topical Issue matter but I am glad to see a Minister of State at the Department of Finance is here because these issues inevitably go back to finance and the lack thereof. We are in the fortunate position at the moment where we have a surplus and a lot more money than we might sometimes have anticipated we would have, although there are questions regarding the ongoing reliability of that money and the period for which we can rely on it. Nevertheless, it is coming in. I am sometimes concerned that some of those moneys are not being used for infrastructural projects. There is the question as to what we will do if and when the money dries up.

The Minister of State and I, although our paths have diverged, both supported a Government that had no money to do anything and was trying to find money for ongoing expenditure and there was very little money for infrastructure.

One of the victims of that was Carrigaholt because there was an anticipation, particularly in the years up to 2009 and the years immediately thereafter, that a sewage infrastructure would be put in place in Carrigaholt. Like many other projects across County Clare and, indeed, across the entire State, that was shelved.

Irish Water was since established. I suppose to describe it as "great" would be perhaps to use an entirely inappropriate word, but Irish Water is struggling to improve the wastewater infrastructure of towns and villages where there already is a wastewater infrastructure. However, there are towns, villages and settlements where there is no wastewater infrastructure at the moment. Carrigaholt is one of those. Because there is no Irish Water infrastructure in place, Irish Water is saying that it is certainly not its problem. The same would be true of Broadford; Cooraclare, which is just up the coast from Carrigaholt; and Doolin, which is further up the coast again.

While the Minister has announced a pilot scheme of €50 million to introduce wastewater treatment plants in towns, villages and settlements where there is no treatment plant whatsoever, unfortunately, the sum of €50 million is entirely inadequate. It would not come near solving the problem in Clare alone, much less across the entire State.

When that scheme was announced, both Broadford and Cooraclare were put forward. A decision is anticipated. I have no problem with that. That was a decision which was made by Clare County Council and I suppose it made the decision on the basis that there were lands that were owned that were suitable, plans were in place and they were to some extend shovel ready. Carrigaholt was less shovel ready, but it is a real chicken and egg scenario because there is no fund to which Clare County Council can apply to get money to buy lands on which a sewage treatment plant will be located. There is no fund to which Clare County Council can apply to put the plans in place if the scheme is extended so that it can say it is shovel ready.

The community of Carrigaholt is a place I anticipate the Minister of State knows. Lots of people from Limerick holiday in Kilkee. I do not know where the Minister of State holidays or how much time he might have spent in Kilkee as a youth or, indeed, more latterly, but Carrigaholt is just down from Kilkee. It is a beautiful spot. It is on the verge of the lower River Shannon special area of conservation but there is no sewage treatment plant in place which obviously has environmental impacts but also has a serious impact on the potential to develop what is a beautiful village with significant potential for sustainable tourism. There is a real impetus in Loop Head to develop that type of tourism but without a sewage treatment infrastructure, it cannot proceed.

I am focusing on Carrigaholt. The same is equally true of Doolin, but it is much bigger project. It might take up a lot of the €50 million on its own but it needs to be done.

Deputy Kieran O'Donnell

I am familiar with Carrigaholt. I spent two years in Irish college in Carrigaholt and I know it well. Many of my constituents holiday there on a regular basis. It is a lovely part of Clare.

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and providing me with the opportunity to address the matter.

The programme for Government supports the uptake of Uisce Éireann's Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme 2020-2024. The programme provides water and wastewater growth capacity in smaller settlements that would otherwise not be provided for in Uisce Éireann's capital investment plan.

I understand that funding of almost €100 million has been approved by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities for the programme. Across the country, under this programme, Uisce Éireann is working with local authorities to ensure that the investment supports the growth of identified settlements, as prioritised in local authority development plans.

In addition, the Department's multi-annual rural water programme, using Exchequer funding, is also delivering improvements to water services, including wastewater, in areas of rural Ireland without public water services.

On 28 April 2022, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, announced funding for a new measure under the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme 2022-2025, for the wastewater collection and treatment needs of villages and settlements that do not have access to public waste water services. An allocation of €50 million, which the Deputy has already identified, has been committed under the national development plan specifically for this measure to address this issue.

The principal aim of the new measure is to address environmental and public health issues in locations of need across the country on a national, prioritised basis. The measure provides an opportunity for local authorities to take an innovative approach with a series of demonstration projects being considered.

Local authorities are working with communities and other stakeholders to facilitate progressively providing waste water infrastructure needs of rural villages-settlements in parts of rural Ireland not currently serviced by Uisce Éireann. Having this dedicated approach will allow for projects to begin now, making the village-settlement a better and more attractive place to live.

The closing date for receipt of applications was 15 September 2022. It was a matter for each local authority to decide which villages or settlements within their functional area meet the criteria set out in the framework for the measure. The Deputy has already referenced that Clare County Council has submitted applications for Broadford and Cooraclare.

The demonstration project model supports a longer-term strategic approach to this issue. This approach also informs potential future funding needs of villages in need of public wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure in villages that are currently without these services, including villages such as Carrigaholt.

I appreciate the Deputy's interest in wastewater in areas of rural Ireland - he referenced Carrigaholt and Doolin - without public water services and specifically his interest in these services for Carrigaholt, County Clare. I have listened carefully to what the Deputy has said and I want to assure him that it will be kept in mind in the context of the evolving new measure.

While the Department has responsibility in ensuring the overall funding for Uisce Éireann in respect of public water services and for the provision of funding under the rural water programme, including for the new measure, the prioritisation of individual projects is a matter for the local authority, which is Clare County Council.

An independent expert panel is currently evaluating all valid applications under the measure. The panel will provide a report on the applications and upon receipt, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, will give consideration to this, and a decision on funding for each application will be made.

The Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible for me at this stage to give a commitment regarding locations that may be identified or selected for advancement in the future.

Deputy Michael McNamara

I am not asking the Minister of State for a commitment as to what sites will be chosen in the future. I suppose a site on the verge of the lower River Shannon SAC that does not have any sewage treatment infrastructure speaks for itself. A settlement of the size of Doolin in the summer when it is full of tourists - long may that continue - without any sewage treatment infrastructure also speaks for itself.

What I ask is what mechanisms will be put in place to ensure that they can progress because there is a chicken and egg scenario that affected Carrigaholt. There is not a site. There is some local authority owned land in Carrigaholt but it is relatively near a relatively small local authority sewage treatment plant. However, that site is potentially suitable for development for housing and the local authority wants to retain it for that purpose. Then there is no site in the ownership of Clare County Council currently on which could be located the sewage treatment plant. Clare County Council cannot buy because there is no fund under which it can buy. It has been told that wastewater is not its area, it is Irish Water's. There is a real problem that the Minister of State can appreciate.

Carrigaholt is a progressive community with a lot of good ideas around sustainable development. There is a big caravan park in Carrigaholt. There is capacity for a lot more. Carrigaholt was a much more important settlement 100 years ago relative to the time than arguably it is now but it has significant capacity.

The Minister of State mentioned the Irish college. If Deputy O'Donnell is passing by there again, I suggest he look at the Irish college. Unfortunately, it is closed. That is something that could be developed to bring life and economic activity into this beautiful part of Clare, and one with significant capacity.

The same is true of settlements right along the coastline. I mentioned Doolin, but it true of the whole country. As I said, €50 million, if the Minister of State will pardon the pun, is a drop in the ocean. We need to address this when there is money in the State for infrastructure because there will not always be money in the State, as I fear the Minister of State knows.

Deputy Kieran O'Donnell

I will make a couple of points, the first of which is that I have no doubt the Deputy has engaged with Clare County Council on this particular matter. I suggest that he sends a proposal into the Minister to get a formal response on the particular issue of Carrigaholt. That is his prerogative as a Deputy representing the constituency.

I will take the matters he highlighted back to the Minister. However, there is a need for him to continue to engage with Clare County Council and then come back to make a submission or put something in writing to the Minister to get a formal response on this particular proposal for Carrigaholt.

Deputy Michael McNamara

I will do that. I thank the Minister of State.

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht - Thursday, 9 Mar 2023