Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Cullinane said Bonmahon’s wastewater system is “wholly inadequate” for a village that is both growing and increasingly important as a tourism destination.

He warned that frequent system failures pose pollution risks, threaten public health, and harm the local environment.

Cullinane noted that the issue is long-standing and has been repeatedly raised by Waterford City and County Council.

“Despite this, Bonmahon has once again been excluded from Uisce Éireann’s Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme,” he said.

He described the exclusion as “deeply disappointing and unacceptable.”

He criticised gaps in monitoring and a lack of assessment within Uisce Éireann, arguing that the shortcomings have prevented Bonmahon from receiving fair consideration for investment.

Cullinane highlighted that other villages facing similar challenges have secured funding under the programme, stressing that rural and coastal communities deserve equal treatment and urgency.

He called on the Minister to intervene, urging Uisce Éireann to reassess Bonmahon’s eligibility, engage meaningfully with the local authority, and ensure that smaller communities are not left behind.

“Bonmahon deserves better; And the people of Waterford deserve answers.”