It was decided at last Tuesday’s monthly meeting of Athlone Town Council that a meeting would be arranged with Roscommon County Council to discuss shared water services and the possibility of installing an interconnector between the water supplies.
Speaking at the January meeting Cllr Aengus O’Rourke said that the town council needed to engage more with Roscommon County Council to explore potential areas of mutual operation, particularly regarding infrastructural resources, namely water and sewerage services with a view to improved service levels and potential cost saving opportunities on both sides.
Director of services Barry Kehoe explained that both councils already share services and resources and are in constant contact with each other. “We cooperate on an ongoing basis with Roscommon County Council and all the other town and county councils that surround us,” he said.
Mr Kehoe went on to explain that there are some issues with water that could be discussed with Roscommon County Council. “We could talk to them about funds for an interconnector between the two councils, which would cost €1 million. Neither councils have the funding. At a technical level we’re both behind it 100 per cent,” Mr Kehoe explained.
Cllr Boxer Moran said that a concrete agenda would be needed in order to discuss attaining funding from Dublin.
Cllr O’Rourke agreed suggesting an agenda on seeking funding for the interconnector be arranged, adding that he was sure there would be other areas of interest to discuss as well.
