IRISH WATER have confirmed that the statutory consultation period for its new 25 year strategy has been delayed.
Criticism of the thirteen week window of consultation time originally allocated for the Regional Water Resource Plan Eastern and Midlands (RWRP-EM) and associated SEA Environmental Report and Natura Impact Statement (NIS) had been voiced by Clare councillors.
Feedback on the plan and associated environmental documents which was published on Tuesday December 14th will now be taken until Friday March 25th, an eleven day extension.
A spokesperson for Irish Water told The Clare Echo, “The RWRP-EM is Irish Water’s plan to identify how we will provide a safe, sustainable, secure and reliable water supply to our customers for now and into the future whilst safeguarding the environment. The RWRP-EM will set out how we will balance the supply and demand for drinking water over the short, medium and long term in the Eastern and Midlands. It is a 25-year strategy to ensure we have a safe, sustainable, secure and reliable drinking water supply for everyone”.
Draft versions can be downloaded at www.water.ie/rwrp/easternmidlands, or at your local authority’s planning office during office hours.
At a briefing with Irish Water officials and elected representatives of Clare County Council, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) requested that the points they raised during the meeting be fed into the feedback for the preparation of the strategy.
He informed officials of the “struggle” to get them to attend a meeting whereby members of the media were entitled to attend. “Sometimes behind closed doors we all ask questions and it isn’t quite successful, it is important ye are here”. He added, “I hope ye will come back to deal with the thorny issue of wastewater and treatment plants. It is imperative ye come back and have an open session with us”.
Regarding the submissions, Cllr Hayes expressed his hope that their views would be taken on board for the plan.
