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Council urge Taoiseach to get the lead out


AN Taoiseach Enda Kenny is to be urged by Ennis Town Council to take action against a potential “health hazard” in the water supply and provide vital infrastructure for the future development of the town.
At a recent meeting of Ennis Town Council, Councillor Frankie Neylon sought support from his fellow councillors to write to the Taoiseach outlining problems in Ennis regarding sewerage and clean water.
Government funding has been approved for the replacement of lead distribution mains at Marian Avenue, Linnane Terrace and Aherne Terrace, with works expected to begin next month. However, according to Councillor Neylon it is a case of “to hell with the rest of the town with lead in their pipes”.
He commented, “I have no problem paying for water, the problem I have is water coming into my house that is more than likely causing a health hazard. I have no problem paying for it if it comes out of the tap and I can drink it.”
“We cannot develop the town, we can only allow so many houses to be built. There is job creation available if only the government were willing to put the money in to create them. Until we get the guts to take this up to these people in Dublin then we are on the back burner.”
Councillor Neylon also told the meeting the local authority have been waiting for more than 15 years for a full upgrade of the town’s sewerage scheme.
“We were told a number of years ago that it would cost €67 million to do a proper job but we have got just €2m. The recent growth of the town has put a strain on the waste-water system.”
“The Taoiseach was here in this office as leader of the opposition and he said if he was ever in a position to do something for Ennis to contact him,” Councillor Neylon added. “Ennis has a serious problem and I would like to go directly to the Taoiseach and for Minister Phil Hogan and Clare TDs to be sent a copy of the letter.”
He was supported by Councillor Tommy Brennan who said, “Until we get a proper sewerage system in place, we can’t expand. The Ennis and Environs Plan is a poor waste of time because without a proper sewerage system, we can’t have proper development.”
Councillor Mary Coote Ryan added that having lead water piping is “prehistoric”.
“If they can be replaced in some areas, we should do everything we can to do all areas. There was great news recently from the EPA about the quality of the county’s drinking water and we are very proud of that but then to have the water go through lead pipes.”
Councillor Paul O’Shea questioned the charging of water rates, while lead remains in the town’s water pipe system and he asked why service pipes are not replaced. “It’s a joke and contravenes EC directives,” he said.
Town manager Ger Dollard told the meeting the figure of €67m referred to the original waste-water treatment scheme proposed in 1995.
“During the Celtic Tiger, resources were plentiful and it would have been ideal to go ahead with that but things have moved on.”
He outlined that what is now proposed is a three-stage scheme, including the upgrading of Clonroadmore and Clareabbey. “The implementation of all three will have the same result of the 1995 scheme,” he assured the councillors.
Mr Dollard added the council have sought meetings with the minister and they are currently preparing a submission of issues they wish to discuss with the minister. “We hope that once this submission goes in, we will get a meeting with the minister.”
He moved to assure that “despite the limitations from a town council and county council point of view, we would do everything possible to facilitate development in Ennis. Whatever comes to us, we try and find a solution and try and make development possible.”
Referring to the replacement of lead distribution mains, he explained service pipes are on private property and a national scheme would be needed.
Last year, An Bord Pleanála granted Ennis Town Council planning permission for the €2.8m upgrade of the main waste-water treatment plant at Clonroadmore. The development will upgrade the existing wastewater treatment plant from a design capacity of 17,000 population equivalent to a design capacity of 30,150 population equivalent.
At an oral hearing of An Bord Pleanála, senior officials from Clare County Council and Ennis Town Council made the case for the upgrade emphasising its importance to the future development of the town.

 

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