Uisce Éireann come under fire at MD meeting

Utility company Uisce Éireann has come under fire as it was revealed that infrastructure in Dungarvan is causing issues with new developments.

Cllr Tom Cronin raised the topic at a recent meeting of the Dungarvan Lismore area, outlining the lack of plannings within the town and the lack of water services in a particular area, due to deficits in infrastructure. Criticising Irish Water (now Uisce Éireann), he said that ‘the town is starving for houses at this stage’.

REMOVAL OF WATER SERVICES - 'A DISASTER'

Speaking on the services provider, at a later point in the meeting, Cllr Conor McGuinness said that he has been calling for many years to see their officials come before the council body. He slammed Uisce Éireann, as he noted that the council and elected members are required to put together plans, such as those for zoning land, despite being unaware of Uisce Éireann’s medium to long-term plans for the same areas.

“We had a situation where we, as councillors, put together a development plan where we were tasked with zoning land for housing, where we were tasked with determining where in this town, where we would put houses, where we would have people live and not once was Irish Water at the table," Cllr McGuiness said.

“Not once was Irish Water here to discuss with us and say ‘ that doesn’t tally with our plans, that doesn’t tally with our outlook’. Not once were they here to advise us of where their priorities might lay. It's just the removal of water services has been a disaster in my opinion and the fact that Irish

Water has absolutely no relationship with the elected councillors here, besides having an email address or a dedicated phone number. There is no relationship where they come in here before the council,” he critically outlined.