It’s being argued Uisce Éireann should be “rolling out the red carpet” for developers trying to build homes in rural parts of Clare instead of presenting obstacles.
The water utility has told members of Clare County Council’s Economic Development Strategic Policy Committee that settlements with insufficient wastewater capacity “will continue to experience constraints into the medium term”.
Uisce Éireann Local Authority Engagement Director John Dempsey’s presentation to members of the Economic Development SPC has revealed that €74 million was invested in water and wastewater infrastructure in Clare from 2014 to 2024.
From now until 2029, he’s stated there’ll be “significant continued investment in infrastructure and programmes” here.
During the meeting, Ennis Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat Daly raised the case of Noel O’Loughlin who’s been trying to build a mixed-use development featuring houses for people with additional needs in Ruan for over 20 years but has been unable to do so due to insufficient public wastewater capacity.
In response, he was told that Uisce Éireann has to “prioritise” certain projects and that while areas like Ruan are “on the list”, they’re “too far down”.
Councillor Daly believes developments like these should receive greater attention.
The meeting also heard from Lahinch Fine Gael Councillor Bill Slattery who asked if Uisce Éireann is “embarrassed” by recent instances of raw sewage discharge at beaches in Clare.
Last October, the water utility was fined €32,000 by the Environmental Protection Agency for offences relating to discharges in Lahinch and Miltown Malbay.
Councillor Slattery says the answer he received wasn’t satisfactory and that it raises concerns around tourism in the region.
Listen to the full interview here
*Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
