TENSIONS ARE RISING among East Clare councillors with the lack of progress for a pilot treatment wastewater treatment plant in Broadford causing political splits.
In August, Clare TD Cathal Crowe (FF) announced that the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien (FF) had confirmed a sewerage scheme in Broadford would be approved over the coming months. Almost eight months on and the people of Broadford have yet to see any signs of progress.
Senior engineer in Clare County Council’s water services and environment section, Cyril Feeney on Monday said the local authority “have not been notified to date of any pilot scheme for the provision of a wastewater treatment plant in the village of Broadford”.
An update had been sought by Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) who described the lack of progress has “very disappointing”. He noted that Oireachtas members had announced machinery would be in Broadford carrying out works by the end of 2021 but nothing has materialised. Land zoned in Broadford will be dezoned under the next County Development Plan, he warned. “It is very disappointing that at the moment we have no idea whether the pilot scheme is going ahead or not. I don’t know what will happen rural villages when the new County Development Plan comes in next year”.
Failure to have clarity was “a let-down,” Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF) commented, “I intend to hold to account the people that gave us those commitments”.
Criticism was fired in the direction of the Fianna Fáil representatives in the Killaloe Municipal District by Cllr Pat Burke (FG). “I would have hoped our Fianna Fáil councillor might have made representations to Minister O’Brien when they saw the motion was down. I was in Broadford that evening in August when he gave a strong commitment, October was pushed to December and that was the last time I heard from the Minister. I know we’re all in Government together but he is on that side”.
Cllr O’Brien accused Cllr Buke of trying to “play politics” on an important matter with Cllr Burke responding, “it is shockingly disappointing, if it was a Fine Gael Minister I’d be making a call to know if anything was done”.
Politicising the tone of the argument was not beneficial to any side, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) argued. “I don’t want to go into the politics of this, I don’t know how many Ministers down through the years from all parties promised the sun, moon and stars and delivered none”. He added, “We can all play games with it, the challenge for us from all parties is to try get the private scheme for Broadford, we should work with the enthusiasm of the community to deliver”.
Scepticism was voiced by Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) on whether a scheme has been proposed or if it is just “word of mouth”. “I know Cllr Burke hit us about Fianna Fáil but we marched with Simon Coveney when he promised the sun, moon and stars. Forget about the political side of it, what do we need to here, do we write to the Ministers, the Oireachtas members will only tell us what we want to here”.
Offering clarity, Cllr Burke said Minister Coveney committed to a cost analysis and not promises, “I’m not having a go at my Council colleagues”. Cllr O’Brien said the Whitegate man was “dividing” the representatives. “I’m not dividing anything, I’m stating facts. Six or seven months later and we’ve no word only to say no word, I’m disappointed for the people of Broadford who have put so much effort in,” Burke replied.
Cooperation is needed from elected members, Cllr Cooney emphasised. “Broadford is a thriving village close to Limierick and UL and we’re looking at dezoning lands because we don’t have the infrastructure”. Councillors agreed to try organise an in-person meeting with Minister O’Brien.
Director of Services with the Council, Anne Haugh confirmed that a submission was made for Broadford’s inclusion in a pilot scheme.
A spokesperson for the Department of Housing told The Clare Echo that an announcement is due from the Minister “in the coming weeks”. The Department “is currently developing proposals to support the provision of waste water collection and treatment requirements for villages and similar settlements that do not have access to public waste water infrastructure. The Minister proposes to make a further announcement on this aspect of the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme in the coming weeks. The NDP commits a significant €6bn investment to be undertaken by Irish Water, of which over €4.5bn will be Exchequer funded. Over €243m has been allocated for non-Irish Water investment in rural water infrastructure including €175 million for the Rural Water Programme”.
