*Photograph: Shane Lorigan.
ASSUMING CONTROL of a water scheme in Cooraclare would be “premature,” senior engineers in Clare County Council have advised.
Insufficient paperwork has been completed which would damage the cause of the Brisla Water Scheme falling under the control of Irish Water, top officials in the local authority have outlined.
It follows a proposal from Cllr Bill Chambers (FF) who issued a request for the water utility company “to take Brisla Water Scheme in their charge”.
Council officials have not received a taking in charge application, a drawing scheme of the network or connections, the connections schedule or consent forms which must be signed by a minimum of two thirds of scheme members. Without such information, senior engineer in the water and environment section of the Council, Cyril Feeney said “it is premature to make such an application” to Irish Water.
Speaking at the July meeting of the West Clare Municipal District, Cllr Chamber admitted he expected such a response. Nonetheless, he was hopeful the request “will be kept on board”.
Throughout the Municipal District, there are “a lot of scheme that we would like to take over,” Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG) acknowledged, “it is one of our biggest problems”. He felt the amount was “a major problem” and noted the majority of schemes were presently run by volunteers.
Cathaoirleach of the West Clare MD, Cllr Shane Talty (FF) advised his colleagues that an annual programme includes “a number of schemes” and is operated from Drumbiggle in Ennis. He expressed his worry with the staff merger between Irish Water and Clare County Council and its impact on group water schemes.
