Funding constraints have slowed water works, says Irish Water

The Irish Water Advisory Board said 33 towns and villages will continue to discharge raw sewage beyond 2021. File Picture.

Irish Water has claimed it is hamstrung by a lack of funding while acknowledging improvements to the network around the country are behind schedule.

The body was responding to criticism levelled at it by the Water Advisory Board (WAB), which said 19 large towns and cities do not meet EU standards set to protect the environment.