*Photograph: Páraic McMahon
A CONTRACTOR is to be appointed in 2027 for wastewater schemes in Broadford and Cooraclare, four years after their inclusion in a €50m pilot.
Both projects have been approved but have not yet advanced to construction stage. There has little progress for either area since December 2023 when their inclusion in the €50m pilot scheme was first announced.
At the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing and Local Government, Uisce Éireann confirmed that a consultant is expected to be appointed by September to progress design work, with the schemes then moving through detailed design and planning phases. Officials stated that, following completion of this process, the appointment of a contractor for both Broadford and Cooraclare is expected in 2027 as part of a national delivery programme.
Minister for Housing, James Browne TD (FF) in response to a parliamentary question from Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF) said funding “remains available” to Clare County Council and the responsibility rests with the Council for progressing the projects in tandem with Uisce Éireann.
Sean Laffey, Asset Management and Sustainability Director with Uisce Éireann, told the Committee, “Following our recent engagement with local authorities, we are progressing with the appointment of a consultant by September to advance design work. Once design is complete, the next stage will be the procurement and appointment of a contractor, which is expected in 2027 as part of our national programme delivery approach”.
Clare TD, Joe Cooney (FG) raised the issue at the committee meeting and also flagged the wastewater treatment plant in Kilkishen, which is currently operating at capacity and is impacting housing development in the area. He sought clarity on when upgrades will be progressed and whether interim solutions, including modular treatment systems, could be considered to unlock housing delivery in the short term.
He said the Kilkishen situation highlights the wider pressure on wastewater infrastructure across County Clare and the direct link between capacity constraints and housing delivery.
Deputy Cooney said the update on Broadford and Cooraclare provides some clarity on the pathway forward, but underlined the need to maintain urgency in delivery. “While it is welcome to have a clearer outline of the next steps, the confirmation that a contractor will not now be appointed until 2027 highlights the long lead-in time for these projects,” he said.
O’Callaghans Mills native Cooney said that both Broadford and Cooraclare have faced significant delays, with growing local frustration due to the absence of firm construction timelines. “These are vital infrastructure projects for rural Clare,” he said. “People have waited a long time, and there is a clear expectation that once design work is complete, the process will move forward without further unnecessary delay.”
Speaking at the May meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District, Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) remarked of the delays. “We’re no closer to getting a sewerage scheme for Broadford than a bullock is to getting a holiday”.
