I have called on the Department of Housing to invest in the delivery of wastewater treatment plants in towns and villages if we are to deliver housing.

The Government need to invest at least €500 million to provide the necessary infrastructure needed.

€45 million has been allocated across the Country but not one scheme has been approved to date in Galway, despite the fact that the funding was announced over two years ago.

Across County Galway we have towns and villages which are unable to build houses due to the lack of wastewater infrastructure.

Places like Craughwell, Corofin, Abbeyknockmoy, Ardrahan, Labane, Kilconnell are remaining stagnant and will not get planning permission for housing due to the absence of wastewater treatment plants.

These same towns and villages are littered with private wastewater treatment plants which are not being maintained and are on environment time bomb waiting to happen.

“It is imperative that in a time of an enormous surplus in Corporation tax that the government invest in infrastructure to create housing which is the emergency of the day.

To date investment is only a token and the delivery time involved is too long in this emergency”.