Lack of funding is delaying water and sewerage schemes being developed in the county, members of the Water and Sewage SPC were informed last week.
Many water schemes which were to start in 2008 under the main water services investment programme (2007-2009 ), and under the small schemes programme, will now commence in 2009 at the earliest.
One of the main water schemes on hold is the Achill Sound Sewerage Scheme, which has been approved by Mayo County Council; however, the council are now in a position where they have to raise €2.2 million towards the €5.3 million scheme. Senior Engineer of Water Services, Mr Brian O’Reilly, said that as there is very little development, there is very little money coming into the council through planning levies in order to assist with funding, which is therefore delaying the commencement of a number of projects.
Committee members were informed that the Ballina Regional Water Supply scheme will go to tender next year; the Belmullet/Foxford Sewerage Scheme is at document stage; there are problems with the Kilalla Sewerage Scheme and the Mayo Sludge Management Scheme has gone back to the drawing board.
As for schemes under the small schemes programme—which benefit from funding from Clár as well as department allocations—two schemes which were to have been started this year will also be put on hold until next year—The Neale Sewerage Scheme and Mayo Abbey Sewerage Scheme.
The public—private partnership between the council and the Lynch Group for the Breaffy Sewerage Scheme is also on hold as, according to Mr O’Reilly, the Lynch Group are “currently not in a position to go ahead”. Fianna Fáil Cllr Al McDonnell said that with two hotels, a school and a number of housing estates in the area that scheme should be prioritised, as did Cllr Eugene McCormack.
Mr O’Reilly said that Breaffy is not a typical village in that there are about 4,000 people living in the area and therefore the scheme would cost more than other village schemes. Added to this, Breaffy is not listed as a Clár area and cannot therefore receive any funding from the programme.
Kiltimagh scheme
Fine Gael Councillor Eugene Lavin raised the ongoing delay with the Kiltimagh Sewerage Scheme which has been on the agenda for years and is an issue which the people of Kiltimagh are “enraged” about.
Cllr Lavin claimed that the river which flows through the town has an overspill of effluent going into it and asked the council to test the river and “tell me that it’s not contaminated” as when the EPA test it they take tests from the other side of the treatment plant and not downstream.
In response to his concern, Mr O’Reilly said that yes, the scheme has been on the agenda for a long time but so have other schemes which are on the list; he added that a “green light” has been given for the Kiltimagh Sewerage collection system, but €2.5 million is still needed to be raised from the council.
Cllr Lavin said that over the last ten years around €2 million has been raised in Kiltimagh from development charges, which would represent 80 per cent of the cost. Director of Services Mr Paddy Mahon said that he was not disputing that amount but the “overall concept is not that simple”. “Well if it’s down to money”, commented Cllr Lavin, then with the current downturn then “it’s not looking that great” for Kiltimagh. Mr O’Reilly assured the Cllr that it would be started next year.
Westport Cllr John O’Malley was also angered that the Westport area is suffering because developments in Murrisk and Louisburgh are being held back, as there is not a right water supply until the Srah to Westport scheme is complete, and asked about the status of the Newport scheme.
Brian O'Reilly explained that it was back to the planning drawing board for the Newport scheme while the Srah scheme, which has been approved Mayo County Council, needs €8.5 million to be raised by the council out of the €28 million cost. Cllr Al McDonnell said that it was unreasonable for the council to come up with that amount of money, which was agreed with Mr O’Reilly, who said that as a county in the BMW region there should be an incentive as at present there is no distinction made between “Balbriggan and Belmullet” and he has been arguing these extensive costs all along.
