An Taisce is the organisation which first brought pipe survey reports into the public domain last month, and Catherine Connolly TD (Ind ) also railed against amendments to the Planning Act proposed this week, including one to remove the heritage body as a ‘prescribed body’ under the current planning rules.
“This criticism of an Taisce is disingenuous, dangerous and deflective of the real issues of concern with our planning system. There were – I think - more than 900 pages to the [new] Planning Act tabled [in the Dail] this week. They’re likely to be guillotined, and will ultimately reduce public participation in our planning process,” Connolly told the Advertiser.
Last month, an Taisce circulated a report submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency by Uisce Eireann in 2017 highlighting the need for a third siphon to transport waste water under the Corrib from east Galway city to Mutton Island sewage treatment plant. A survey of one existing siphon in May this year said “it is at risk of collapse at any time,” according to McBreen Environmental. These surveyors reported pipes needed “urgent” repair considerations “to avoid total failure”.
Speaking at Leaders Question time in the Dáil on Wednesday, Catherine Connolly (Ind ) received assurances from Minister for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, that Irish Water will respond again to her queries on the Corrib siphons. Her questions were in response to comments by senior Irish Water officials who told the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee last week that siphon pipes transportng waste water across the Corrib's river bed were not in danger of collapse.
“I am aghast PAC was told this information is wrong,” said Connolly.
