Renewed calls are being made for what’s been described as “prehistoric” wastewater infrastructure in North Clare to be upgraded to facilitate new housing in the region.
An €8 million housing development in Ennistymon is currently on hold as the town is still awaiting a new wastewater treatment plant.
A social housing project at Deerpark, Ennistymon received Stage Two pre-planning funding approval from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in October 2022.
The development would consist of 30 houses including a variety of five-bed, four-bed, three-bed and two-bed properties.
Since its approval however, the project has been on hold as Clare County Council is awaiting the provision of a new wastewater treatment plant in the North Clare town.
Plans are underway for such a facility in Ennistymon but it’s not expected to be delivered until 2029.
Local Fianna Fáil Councillor Shane Talty claims the standard of infrastructure in the region is unacceptable in the 21st century.
At present, there are 155 households on the social housing waiting list across Inagh, Ennistymon and Lahinch.
The complaints about the quality of water treatment in the area come two months after Uisce Éireann was forced to pay over €15,000 after being found guilty of two water pollution offences which caused the deaths of 2,000 fish in the Ballymacraven River last May.
Lahinch Green Party Councillor Liam Grant believes more pressure must be put on the water utility to deliver fit-for-purpose infrastructure so houses can be built in a timely manner.
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