The news that the long awaited Belmullet sewerage scheme has been given €6 million funding was welcomed this week. Local Fine Gael councillor Gerry Coyle said that while there has been some concern expressed by local residents and fishermen in relation to the location of the proposed plant and outflow pipe, he believes the new modern plant should allay some of these concerns. He said this week: “Belmullet is a modern and vibrant town and it deserves all the investment it can get towards improving its infrastructure so that that it can progress into the future.” Councillor Coyle thanked Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Minister Michael Ring, and Minister Phil Hogan for their commitment to the project. He said that both himself and Minister Ring had worked tirelessly on behalf of the community to have the scheme delivered.
Minister of State Michael Ring said: “During the last election campaign, one of the main concerns for constituents in the Belmullet region was the lack of a proper sewerage scheme. At every election promises were made about this scheme, but nothing actually came to fruition before now. The only commitment I gave during that campaign was if Fine Gael were returned into power, I would try and deliver this scheme for Belmullet. Cllr Gerry Coyle and I worked diligently on this issue over the past three years. We had a number of meetings with the Department and we had a number of meetings with Minister Phil Hogan and I am delighted to say that funding of €6 million Euro has now been approved for this project.”
Commitment is there for Breaffy scheme — Burke
Fine Gael councillor Cyril Burke has said this week that the announcement by Irish Water of a €100,000 investment into the proposed sewerage scheme for Breaffy village shows that the commitment is there to get the project done.
Speaking to the Mayo Advertiser this week, Burke said: “The announcement this week shows the commitment is there from Irish Water to get this long awaited scheme done. They have put in €100,000 to get the scheme through the planning permission stage so it will be ready to go to construction. Mayo County Council had, through their own resources, previously done a preliminary report on the scheme, this funding will bring it a step closer.”
The scheme for the village which has long been mooted is finally moving in the right direction, he said: “Unfortunately it fell between two stools before, but this is something that is needed in the area and it will take in an area from the end of the Castlebar scheme at Kilkenny Cross right out through the village and on past the post office, it is hoped.”
