Mayo County Council has applied to the Environmental Protection Agency for wastewater discharge licences for the Belmullet, Charlestown, and Foxford sewerage treatment plants, according to information garnered by Deputy Dara Calleary in the Dáil last week.
The Mayo Fianna Fáil TD raised the matter with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government Phil Hogan.
Deputy Calleary said: “I worked hard to secure a commitment of €14.3 million from the Department during 2010 for wastewater treatment plants and associated works for the three schemes.
“Having questioned the new Minister, Phil Hogan TD, in relation to the progress of the schemes in the Dáil last week, I have been informed that the Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 to 2012 continues to include a contract for these schemes to advance to construction during the period of the programme.”
The Deputy said: “The Department has indicated that their assessment of Mayo County Council’s two foreshore licence applications in respect of the Belmullet scheme is substantially completed, but that any decision on them must await the EPA’s decision on the wastewater discharge licence application. The council have also applied to the EPA for wastewater discharge licences for the Charlestown and Foxford scheme.”
Dep Calleary said: “Mayo County Council must await the grant of the foreshore licence and discharge licences before it can issue the certificate of completion of planning for the proposed contract. The Minister has stated, however, that he expects to issue a decision on the council’s design brief for the appointment of consultants to advance the procurement of the three wastewater treatment plants and associated works under a single Design Build Operate contract early in 2012.”
“I am now appealing to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and the four government TDs in the county, to ensure that the Department proceeds with the issuing of a decision on the design brief in the New Year,” he concluded.
