KILCUMMIN SEWER GETS GREEN LIGHT FROM BORD

AN Bord Pleanála has given Irish Water the go-ahead for the construction of the long-awaited Kilcummin waste water system much to the relief of the locality where inordinate delays in the scheme have stymied housing development and even impacted the state of the roads.

The appeals Board upheld Kerry County Council’s decision to grant planning permission to the project in a decision last week. The Board considered the matter following an appeal of the Council’s decision lodged in April by Inland Fisheries Ireland.

Inland Fisheries Ireland flagged its fears about the project’s potentially destructive impact on the fisheries of Lough Leane and the Deenagh River. The scheme will see Irish Water building a pumping station in Kilcummin, which is to include an emergency overflow to the adjacent watercourse which discharges into the Deenagh within the Killarney National Park, MacGillycuddy’s Reeks and Caragh River Catchment Special Area of Conservation (SAC 000365). It is also to comprise a gravity sewer that would cross the Deenagh with the same SAC site.

Inland Fisheries Ireland based its appeal on what it argued was the ‘ inadequacy of information’ provided in the plans; the potential impacts on the quality of the water of the Deenagh and Lough Leane, arguing that the Deenagh River located within the SAC represents a very important spring salmon fishery ‘ with spawning and nursery habitats throughout its length’.

It said that the water quality of Lough Leane, while having improved in recent years, remains highly vulnerable to nutrients. IFI also argued that the Natura Impact Statement submitted with the plan for the project did not demonstrate ‘ that risk to water quality will not occur’, requesting further information.

An Bord Pleanála considered the Natural Impact Statement and all other relevant aspects of the submission in full. “In overall conclusion, the Board was satisfied that the proposed development would not adversely affect the integrity of the European Sites in view of the sites’ conservation objectives,” it ruled last week. It upheld the Council permission on two conditions:

That the development be carried out and completed in accordance with the plans and that all ‘mitigation’ measures outlined in the NIS be implemented in full’.

Deputy Danny Healy Rae was among the first to welcome the news this week, saying he was ‘glad’ to learn of the Board’s decision on the matter.

Front, from left: Muiris Ó hAoire (Board of Management), Breda O’Dwyer (Principal), Norma O’Carroll, Rita Goulding and Maurice O’Connor. Teachers and Board of Management at Sliabh a’Mhadra wishing Norma O’Carroll all the best on her retirement after 32 years’ service. Back, from left: Mary Wallace, Cathal White, Sinead Pierse, Sarah Ross, Majella Egan, Denise Wren, Anne White (Sec),...

Deputy Danny Healy Rae said he was ‘glad’ to hear of the decision on the Kilcummin sewer.