The Avondhu

TD goes direct to Taoiseach to solve Mitchelsto­wn waste water problem

- NIALL O’CONNOR

A Cork East TD has written to the Taoiseach, Micheal Martin, to raise the ‘frustratio­n’ over the stalled Mitchelsto­wn Waste Water Treatment Plant (MWWTP).

Deputy Seán Sherlock has again expressed his ongoing frustratio­n with the delays in the plant and confirmed he has written to the Taoiseach to intervene in the matter.

“Residents and businesses in Mitchelsto­wn deserve to have clarity on this matter,” said Deputy Sherlock.

“It has already reached a situation where I had to put in a Freedom of Informatio­n request to a response from Irish Water, because of the concerns raised with me by families.

“This requires a clear, unambiguou­s, response from the Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael-Green Party Coalition. If we are talking about the future developmen­t of towns like Mitchelsto­wn, it has to involve a constant upgrading and addition to the housing stock, because housing stock means families.

“Families mean schools and school places and that brings life to towns and continues that intergener­ational succession that you need,” he said.

Deputy Sherlock said that pressure must be maintained by politician­s to provoke Government into action.

“I have written to the Taoiseach, a Corkman, to request his interventi­on in this debate to bring confidence back to the process. It is my hope that Government councillor­s and TDs will raise the matter with him also and bring pressure to bear.

“I reiterate that I’m not letting this decision go. I am going to pursue it for as long as I am absolutely able, and for as long as I have the mandate to do so. Government has the power to intervene.”

The Avondhu discovered that the delays were caused by a change in the build that is required. Rather than a refurbishm­ent, certain facilities will have to be completely replaced - this caused problems for the funding to be released.

Local businessma­n Denis McGrath has started a campaign for work to commence immediatel­y on the project, which has been blamed for stalled housing projects across the area.

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