Over half of Ireland’s sewage plants regularly dump untreated waste, harming health and environment despite some progress.

Over half of Ireland’s wastewater treatment plants regularly release untreated or poorly treated sewage, according to the EPA, with ongoing issues in Donegal towns like Ramelton, Rathmullan, Falcarragh, and Moville. Despite a 50% drop in raw sewage discharges since last year, daily pollution continues due to aging infrastructure, operational failures, and delayed upgrades. Uisce Éireann has started work on only half of 78 priority sites, facing legal and planning hurdles, while the EPA warns of ongoing environmental and public health risks.