This motion speaks of failings that are all too well known affecting communities in Donegal and other places. There has been a failure of the Government and Uisce Éireann to deliver basic infrastructure, including in parts of my own constituency in Donegal. In one community, 40 houses have no running water. There are people who rely on wells as a source of water this year. That is a disgrace in 2026, and a dereliction of duty by the Government. Our island communities in Donegal are also well used to being treated as second-class citizens when it comes to water. On Arranmore and Tory Island, water quality is regularly extremely poor. On Gola Island, there is no running water at all. The pipeline was damaged back in July, and Uisce Éireann has still not provided a timeline for when running water will return to the island. I wrote to the Minister last year and wrote to the Minister with responsibility for the Gaeltacht, but they keep on telling me that it is not their responsibility. That is six months that the islanders have been waiting for answers from the Government, yet nothing is forthcoming, not even a plan, not even a date. With regard to sewerage, in my own parish of Gaoth Dobhair, in the heart of the Gaeltacht, we have been waiting for a sewerage scheme for decades. In 2015, I submitted a complaint to the European Commission about the State's failure to deliver a sewerage scheme in Gaoth Dobhair. The Commission took infringement proceedings against the State in response and forced the delivery of a pilot scheme. In phase 1 of the scheme, 50 properties were connected. Over a decade later, we are still waiting for the other phase to commence, and Uisce Éireann tells us it will not happen for years. Wastewater continues to be inadequately treated. There are repeated risks to coastal waters, fisheries, communities and the natural environment that this community depends on. As a consequence, what do we have? We have blocked development. Hotels, social housing and private housing cannot go ahead and local services cannot expand. My colleague talked about accountability for Uisce Éireann. It does not exist. TDs and councillors find it impossible to get answers from Uisce Éireann and to hold it accountable, or even speak to somebody who is dealing with any project. This has to change, and change quickly.

Sentiment score: -0.17