'Lack of political will' means 200 Irish rivers, lakes and bays still have 'significant' sewage

SWAN coordinator Sinéad O'Brien said: "Sewage discharges are a significant issue for over 200 of our rivers, lakes and bays which have been assessed as unhealthy by the EPA."

Decades of under-investment and "a lack of political will" to tackle Ireland's creaking sewage infrastructure has come home to roost, it has been claimed following stark findings from the environmental watchdog.

The Sustainable Water Network (SWAN), made up of 25 environmental groups, said "precious water wildlife and the health of people should not have to suffer from the dire consequences" of sewage pouring into Irish coastal and river waters.