A CALL has been made for Uisce Éireann to outline its investment plans for Ennis, with councillors warning that water and wastewater infrastructure deficits could hold back the town’s future development.
Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) tabled a motion at the October meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, requesting a briefing on planned investment to address existing infrastructure deficits, climate change and projected growth in the district up to 2040.
In a written response, Senior Executive Engineer Tom Mellett said the municipal district would contact Uisce Éireann to arrange a briefing. He added that councillors could also request one through the utility’s elected members’ channel.
Speaking at the meeting, Cllr O’Callaghan welcomed the response, saying it was important to establish the current position and understand what progress could be made over the coming years.
“Ennis is not just any town, it is the largest in Munster,” he said, adding that if the town was to develop as a destination, its infrastructure needed to be able to support that growth.
“If we want to develop, we need adequate water going forward,” he said.
Cllr O’Callaghan stressed that the motion was not asking Uisce Éireann to commit to specific works or expenditure, but to provide information on its plans.
Cllr Pat Daly (FF), who seconded the motion, highlighted the need for an upgrade to Clareabbey wastewater treatment plant, describing it as a “serious issue” that Uisce Éireann needed to address.
Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) also associated himself with the motion, referring to infrastructure difficulties at Clareabbey which he said were delaying housing development.
Cllr Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF) said the issue had been raised “again and again” and called for greater pressure to be placed on Uisce Éireann to address wastewater capacity.
“Don’t look for it and you won’t get it. Well, we have looked for it and still have not got it,” she said.
She said wastewater treatment remained a major obstacle to addressing the housing crisis and argued that a plan was needed to identify additional sites for treatment infrastructure.
Cllr Baker Bashua warned that without further provision, the same capacity concerns could remain in 18 months’ time.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
