A shocking new report has revealed the extent of the sewage failures across Ireland.
Twenty-nine large towns and cities including Dublin’s Ringsend, Cork city, Cobh, Youghal, Enniscorthy, Arklow, Lahinch, Ennistymon, Clifden and many more failed to meet mandatory EU sewage standards, the deadline being a decade ago.
Raw sewage is being dumped into the sea and rivers in 43 places, including Rush and Howth in Dublin, An Spideál and An Cheathrú Rua in Galway, Kilmore Quay in Wexford, ten locations in Cork, and 11 in Donegal.
The Environmental Protection Agency has called for a substantial increase in investment in public waste water treatment infrastructure to protect public health and the environment.
EPA programme manager David Flynn has called for an extra €100 million to be invested in waste water infrastructure.
He said there has been a legacy of “decades of under investment in the system”.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr Flynn said that at least €280m to €300m a year, for the next five to seven years, needs to be invested.
He said that while enormous progress has been made since 2000, in comparison to the rest of Europe, Ireland is lagging behind.