Consultations will take place between Clare County Council and Irish Water to determine if water fountains can be installed across the county.

It comes following a notice of motion from Cllr Mary Howard at the December meeting of the local authority. She requested the putting in of fountains throughout Clare “considering the difficulty presented by single use plastics mostly water bottles”.

In October 2018, the European Parliament voted to ban certain single-use plastics and under the proposed directive, items such as plastic straws, cotton swabs, disposable plastic plates and cutlery would be banned by 2021, and 90 per cent of plastic bottle recycled by 2025.

Director of Physical Development, Carmel Kirby said that in support of the motion, they will “consult with Irish Water (IW) in the first instance to determine their policy on the matter and if there are any costs around connection fees or charges for water usage at public drinking water fountains. We will also consult with the Health Service Executive (HSE) in regard to any public health implications with respect to the inspection, cleaning and maintenance of any public drinking water fountains that may be installed”.

Howard explained she put forward the motion because of the increasing amount of plastic she is coming across during her work with the Ennis Tidy Towns group. “They were put in by Dublin City Council recently and I’m asking we consider it for all of the county, it will have a very quick knock on effect”.

In seconding the motion, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy stated, “It is something I believe we’re all opening our eyes on after many years of having our eyes closed. We need to consider making every effort to change our lifestyle and reduce the use of single plastics”.

Cllr Cathal Crowe praised the idea but noted “it is almost identical to one I had down a few years ago”, he recalled. “Two years ago we passed a resolution saying we would restore village pumps but nothing happened. Maybe the two could be merged”. His Fianna Fáil colleague, Alan O’Callaghan was not in favour of using water from the pumps, “Anything to keep plastic at a minimum at this day and age would be good. I don’t think the pumps would work, we cannot guarantee the water from any wells would be safe for human consumption”. Similarly, Kilrush councillor, Ian Lynch said their Tidy Towns group had been granted funds to put a pump in place twelve months ago “but nothing has happened”.

According to Cllr Johnny Flynn, “the problem exists from people making the lifestyle change to get away from soft drinks”. “Installation should be at schools and transport hubs, this is a good motion but the location should be where demand is greatest and where it would be most availed of,” the Fine Gael councillor added.

“We’re seeing the waste day in day out, we need to change our mindset”, Howard concluded. Members will be updated once the consultations have been completed early next year.

Related News

Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival
Closing hours extended in Lisdoonvarna for match-making festival
Supermacs-Plaza
New legal challenge against €10m Supermac's Plaza makes 'mockery of planning system'
conor mckenna 1
'Secretaries have been papering over the cracks from Dept under-funding' - Inch principal issues support to workers on strike
mobile banking 1
Phishing scam under investigation in Ennis
Latest News
mobile banking 1
Phishing scam under investigation in Ennis
sixmilebridge v whitegate 28-08-22 16 conor whelan
Strong finish helps Whitegate edge Bodyke in thriller
éire óg v st josephs miltown 20-08-23 gavin murray darragh mcdonagh eoin o'brien 1
Collisions on course following senior, intermediate & junior football quarter-final draws
pamela mccarthy scoil chríost rí 1
'We don't want freebies, we want what we're entitled to' - school secretaries & caretakers seek pension parity
shannon airport giveaway 2
Shannon Airport giving away 80 flights during month of September
Premium
'We don't want freebies, we want what we're entitled to' - school secretaries & caretakers seek pension parity
'We won't be afraid of anyone' - excitement building in Ennistymon for Clare SFC quarter-finals
Coolmeen claim last Clare IFC quarter-final spot with dramatic finish
'Hard-fought wins' for Cratloe has paved way to quarter-finals
Clare PIHC: Tulla draw knocks out Killanena, Tubber thump Parteen/Meelick & Magpies fall to another shock defeat

Advertisement

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.