A Galway East TD has called on the Government to fast track funding for existing wastewater treatment plants so that they can be taken in charge by Irish Water.
Currently there are more than 560 housing estates which have wastewater plants which Irish Water are refusing to take in charge. According to Independent Galway East TD, Sean Canney, the onus is then left with the residents to maintain the plant.
So far, the Government has allocated €3.36 million to sort 26 of the treatment plants. However, Dep Canney said at that rate of progress, “it will take more than 20 years to sort out the issues”.
As a result, he is calling for the fast-tracking of funding to allow for these wastewater treatment plants to be upgraded and taken in charge.
“It is unfair that homeowners have to bear a financial burden for the servicing and maintenance of these plants,” he said. “The Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Scheme is the mechanism to deal with these legacy issues as they are an environmental time bomb and a burden to our citizens.”
