Water and sewerage system reach capacity

Social houses can’t be developed due to water and sewerage systems reaching their full capacity in the Gorey district, reported Cllr Malcolm Byrne at last week’s meeting for Gorey Municipal District.

The councillors want to take a proactive approach while they wait for Irish Water to sort out the problem. Eddie Taaffe, district director, agreed they can’t be waiting five years for Irish Water and said ’it was time to think outside of the box’. A representative for Irish Water will be invited to a meeting in the new year so councillors can voice their concerns.

‘We can only build in Gorey town and Courtown at the moment,’ added Cllr Byrne.

Cllr Anthony Donoghue said no villages in the district have the capacity to build at the moment and they can’t rely on Irish Water as that will be at least five years before anything is looked at.

‘I agree, if the housing crisis is down to sewerage and water we need to look at another alternative,’ said Cllr Mary Farrell.

Meanwhile, Cllr Robbie Ireton said ‘we are not getting the number of units we need in the town and we need to take the bull by the horns and sort this situation out’.

Padraig O’Gorman, Housing Officer for Wexford County Council, reported they are ‘making progress with such developments that will alleviate the housing problem in Gorey’.

‘Two proposals for Gorey have gone in and we should find out shortly about them,’ said Mr O’Gorman.

The two projects they are preparing feasibility studies for prior to the Stage 1 application is Creagh and St Joseph’s in Gorey.

Mr O’Gorman also said the ‘units in Baile Eoghain in Gorey should be ready this time next year’.

However, Cllr John Hegarty wants the affordable housing scheme to be the focus for next year as ‘it would be an ideal scenario in Gorey with the demand of house prices’.

‘Once we get approval, we will advertise the scheme and look at the demand from applicants,’ said Mr O’Gorman.

He added they are developing a format for housing and planning, where they will match up places that are in demand and said ‘it will quickly tell us where we can acquire plans’.

Cllr Pip Breen said we have villages in the district with a huge want for housing. ‘This stage we need to push it as Gorey needs it,’ added Cllr Breen.