The Chair of the Clare branch of the Labour Party is criticising what he claims is a ‘failure’ to address raw sewage being pumped into Lahinch’s waters.
The party says issues with wastewater infrastructure have not been addressed in the area despite problems occurring for a number of years.
Clare County Council refused two separate planning permissions for a total of 36 houses in Lahinch earlier this year due to concerns over inadequate sewage facilities in the town.
Denis Vaughan, Chair of the Labour Party’s Clare branch feels the problem is being let slide.
Listen back to the full interview below:
Clare County Council statement:
‘Clare County Council are no longer a Water Services Authority with the creation of Irish Water in 2014.
Irish Water are now the public body vested with the responsibility and powers under legislation for the delivery of new water/wastewater infrastructure and the upgrading of existing infrastructure.
They deliver these works through their capital investment programme which in turn is overseen by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities.
The Environmental Protection Agency also oversee Irish Water to ensure they achieve the relevant environmental compliance requirements of their water/wastewater treatment plants.
Clare County Council work under a Service Level Agreement with Irish Water to assist in the delivery of the water services function but the Council no longer have any legislative functions or powers in this area.’
Irish Water statement:
‘Irish Water’s investment programme is prioritised to ensure that water services infrastructure is in place where and when it is needed. Irish Water continuously engages with Local Authorities to help inform their Development Plan preparation process, including the tiered zoning of lands as required under the National Planning Framework, to support the delivery of housing and growth. Local Authority Development Plans in turn help inform Irish Water’s strategic plans and investment planning into the future.
As the national water utility, Irish Water is delivering improvements to water and wastewater services where they are needed most urgently based on a clearly defined set of priorities including Water Quality, Environmental Compliance and supporting sustainable growth programmes, taking into consideration our funding framework and legal obligations.
Irish Water is committed to ending the discharge of raw sewage. To date we have completed projects to eliminate 60% of all raw sewage discharges nationally and are on track to end the vast majority of the remainder by 2025, with a total investment of €700 million. In Co Clare works to eliminate raw sewage discharges, by building wastewater treatment plants and networks where none previously existed, are underway in Liscannor, Kilrush and Clarecastle; with works planned for Ballyvaughan and Kilkee. Construction got underway on the new sewerage scheme for Liscannor in 2021 and is due to be completed in 2023.
There is a wastewater treatment plant in Lahinch, which is planned for upgrade as part of Irish Water’s investment plan. This project has just completed a feasibility study stage and a site for a new WWTP will need to be acquired. Irish Water will later this year provide information to the public in relation to that site selection process. Following selection of a preferred site then the detailed design process and planning submission will take place.
Irish Water also recently commenced construction on the Kilfenora Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade. Other projects that will also enhance wastewater treatment in the future include Ennistymon Sewerage Scheme, Newmarket on Fergus Sewerage Scheme, Clonroadmore WWTP Upgrade (Ennis) and Clareabbey WWTP Upgrade (Ennis).’
