I thank Deputy Ó Cearúil for raising this important matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne. At the outset, I should advise that the Water Services Act 2017 sets out the arrangements in place for the delivery of water and wastewater services by Uisce Éireann. The scope, prioritisation and progression of individual projects are a matter for Uisce Éireann and approved through its own board and internal governance structure. The Minister has no role in these matters. I will bring the points the Deputy raised to the Minister's attention, however, and I will arrange for a follow-up with Uisce Éireann. It is not acceptable that he would be waiting for four or five return calls. We will follow up on that. I have made inquiries, and I am informed that there are operational challenges in the water network in Celbridge, including Hazelhatch. However, under the national leakage reduction programme, Uisce Éireann is progressing with a replacement of 5.2 km of Irish Water mains between Newcastle, County Dublin and Celbridge, County Kildare, which the Deputy has already referenced. Uisce Éireann's contractor is mobilising crews to commence site investigations that are necessary for design stage of the project, which the Deputy also referenced. The construction phase is estimated to commence in quarter 3 of 2025. These essential works are part of a significant investment programme by Uisce Éireann to improve the water network between Newcastle and Celbridge. This project will provide a more reliable water supply to customers and local businesses in the area with less disruption due to bursts and leakages. Uisce Éireann is also carrying out leakage reduction works in Allenwood to provide a more reliable water supply and reduce the high level of leakage. Uisce Éireann is also carrying out leakage reduction works in Allenwood to provide a more reliable water supply and reduce the high level of leakage. The work involves the replacement of more than 3.7 km of problematic water mains with new modern pipes. The works commenced in November 2024 and 2 km are now complete. The works also provide laying new water service connections from the public water main on the road to customers' property boundaries and connecting it to the customers' water supply, with an estimated construction completion in quarter 3 of 2025. In Leixlip, phase 2 of upgrade works costing €20 million is almost complete at the Leixlip water treatment plant. This plant has now commenced a third investment phase worth €30 million, aimed at increasing the resilience and capacity of Ireland's second largest water treatment facility, which is anticipated to take three years to complete. I will turn now to other investment in Kildare, Uisce Éireann completed essential works to upgrade the wastewater network in Newbridge north. In another project, Uisce Éireann upgraded wastewater infrastructure in Newbridge as part of the wider Upper Liffey Valley sewerage scheme to reduce overflows into the River Liffey. A total of 11 towns across Kildare benefited from the completion of a €75 million investment by Uisce Éireann to upgrade and improve the local wastewater infrastructure. The completion of these vital projects will improve the water quality in the Liffey by reducing the risk of sewer overflows during severe weather events.

Sentiment score: 0.05

I thank Deputy Ó Cearúil very much. I accept the points he makes and how genuine he is in raising them and outlining the impact. The Minister, Deputy Browne, has made inquiries and was informed that there are operational challenges in the wastewater network in Celbridge, including Hazelhatch. However, under the national leakage reduction programme, Uisce Éireann is progressing with the replacement of 5.2 km of old water mains between Newcastle, County Dublin, and Celbridge, County Kildare. The main contractor is mobilising crews to commence site investigations that are necessary for the design stage of the project. The construction phase is estimated to commence in quarter 3 of 2025. The Deputy raised a couple of other points. There is clearly a need for a structured protocol in Irish Water. We spoke about the impact on the schools. There are two issues in that regard. The first is the water mains works that need to be carried out by Uisce Éireann and then the follow-on work involving the reconstruction of the road itself. The local authority and the Department of Transport would probably be involved, along with Uisce Éireann. I will go back to the Minister, Deputy Browne, to follow up on Uisce Éireann's communication on disruptions and the need to perhaps have a protocol for schools, which is vital. For completeness, I ask the Deputy to follow up by providing those details in correspondence directly to the Minister. I will bring the matter raised to the Minister's attention and to the attention of his officials but, for completeness, I urge the Deputy to set out all the points. As the Deputy is probably aware, Uisce Éireann has established a dedicated team to deal with queries from public representatives. It can be contacted via email at oireachtasmembers@water.ie or via the dedicated telephone number 0818 578 578. The Deputy makes a valid point that comes up repeatedly about the interaction and response times. It came up in a previous debate here about Uisce Éireann as well. It is a matter that we will continue to bring up directly with Uisce Éireann itself, but I ask the Deputy to email the Minister as well.

Sentiment score: 0.15