Irish Water’s role in planning is questioned
CLLR Paddy Kavanagh queried whether Irish Water are the new Planning Authority for Enniscorthy in a discussion about the third phase of the Enniscorthy Sewerage System.
Tadhg O’Corcora informed the members of the recent Enniscorthy Municipal District Council meeting that phase three of the scheme will commence in April. As the design process will take six months, work on site won’t commence until September and from then, the scheme will take two years to complete.
This will incorporate the design, construction and operation of the Enniscorthy Wastewater Treatment Plant at Saint John WWTP, the Prom Pumping Station, St John’s Pumping Station and the Kilagooly WWTP/ Spring Valley works.
‘ The 24-month construction period may change but I don’t think it can be improved,’ he said.
Cllr Kavanagh queried whether that meant if it would be three years before the construction of housing can commence. Mr O’Corcora said that some people may be able to get planning permission for housing in advance of the scheme’s completion.
‘So basically Irish Water are the new Planning Authority?’ said Cllr Kavanagh.
Director of Services John Carley glossed over the issue.
‘We are working in conjunction with our partners. We have to work with them in order to advance on planning,’ he said.
Cllr Barbara Anne Murphy agreed with her fellow councillor, saying that decisions about planning permission are no longer just down to the planning authorities as they once were. She also had a few things to say about the communication between Irish Water and their customers, saying that it needs to be improved.
‘I don’t know how long it took to get information to people in Ballindaggin last week when the water was gone. I thought we had a text alert?’ said Cllr Murphy.
‘We are trying to expand the coverage of our text alert by asking more people to sign up for it,’ said Mr Carley. ‘Once people start using it, it is a fantastic system.’