Still waiting for Kilkee sewage plant

THE wait for a sewage treatment plant in Kilkee looks like it’s going to enter its ninth year at the very least. At Monday’s meeting of Kilkee Town Council, Councillor Lily Marrinan Sullivan asked for a “complete update regarding the status of the new sewage treatment plant, promised since 2005.”

In reply Anthony McNamara, senior executive engineer with Clare County Council, said that responsibility for the progression of the scheme now rests with Irish Water and not with the local authority.

“The Kilkee and Kilrush Sewerage Schemes were included in the Department of the Environment Community and Local Government Invest Programme 2010-2013. At the time of the transfer of the local water services function to Irish Water, this scheme was at a stage where the preliminary report had received approval of the Department of the Environment. The next step was to procure a site investigation contract, phase one of the wastewater treatment plant and phase two of collection systems,” Anthony McNamara explained.

“While the council will continue to deliver water services under a Service Level Agreement with Irish Water for the next 12 years, the progression of individual schemes and associated funding required is a matter for Irish Water. A business plan for the scheme has been completed by Clare County Council and submitted to Irish Water for approval and inclusion in the Capital Programme, the details of which has yet to be advised by Irish Water,” Mr McNamara added.