Irish Water would be left ‘over a barrel of sewage’ by site sale

A PLANNED sale by Shannon Airport Group of a 4.9 acre site at the Quin Road Business Park, which includes a pumping station serving housing estates in Ennis, would leave Irish Water “over a barrel of sewage flowing backwards into estates”, Independent TD Michael McNamara has told the Dáil.

Deputy McNamara has voiced concerns that private ownership of the infrastructure could negatively effect the provision of a public service to a number of large housing estates in Ennis.

This week he asked the government to bring together the relevant bodies involved in a bid to ensure the pumping station, described as a vital piece of public infrastructure, is protected.

Speaking in the Dáil this week the Clare TD raised his concerns about the sale to Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath.

He outlined, “Shannon Commercial Enterprises, the successor of Shannon Development is selling five acres of land on the Quin Road in Ennis.

“In one corner of that land is a sewerage pumping station. Into that sewerage pumping station flows sewerage from Celtic Tiger estates which have been taken into charge and then it is pumped on to a state owned treatment facility.

“Shannon’s position is that after the sale Irish Water will be free to engage with the purchaser.

“But of course after the sale, Irish Water will effectively be over a barrel, a barrel of sewage flowing backwards into estates that have been taken into charge.”

He asked the minister, “Would you agree that’s not a way to treat assets which are owned by agencies of the state and that that manner of treating them potentially exposes the exchequer unnecessarily to a very large bill and that this sale should be reviewed in that context?”

Minister McGrath informed the deputy he did not have the full details of the issue, adding, “It seems to me the relevant bodies here need to come together.

“These are bodies under the aegis of different government departments and they should be working together to try and find a way through this issue while respecting they have different mandates.”

Deputy McNamara stated he would be “happy” to provide details to the minister and urged the minister to bring them together.

“If you provide me with the details we will try to get them talking to each other and see if a way can be found.”