A North West MEP is blaming the planning process and the lack of resources for the situation now facing towns and villages across the north west in relation to sewerage treatment.
An Environemntal Protection Agency Report issued this week pinpointed South Donegal as a black spot when it comes to the discharge of raw sewerage into the environment.
Untreated sewerage is still going into the water at Kilcar, Killybegs and Bundoran.
Treatment plants are set to be in place in Killybegs and Bundoran by the end of the year.
Other areas in the region where sewerage is going back into the environment include Ballymote, Tubbercurry, Colloney and Manorhamilton.
MEP Marian Harkin is blaming the problem on a planning system that, she says, involves up to 80 decisions before work can start, as well as the failure to provide county councils with adequate resources.
Speaking to Ocean FM News, she also says the BMW region helped Ireland qualify for EU funds for sewerage schemes but most of the money obtained was spent in the Dublin area:
