North Tipp Councillors blame Uisce Éireann for lack of new houses

COUNCILLORS in North Tipperary have slammed Uisce Éireann for housing inaction in the region, which has led to many badly needed houses not being built.
Cllr Michael O'Meara told the October meeting of Nenagh Municipal District that it's “very disappointing that so very few new houses in Nenagh MD are being built. The big problem we have is Uisce Éireann. For example in Cloughjordan, housing development has been stymied for years because the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is at capacity and in Ballycommon there are 35 houses ready to go but they can't proceed because of a capacity issue with the WWTP there.”
The councillor said it was “deplorable” that there has been no movement on the WWTP issues at all in a number of areas in Lower Ormond, and that it was obvious that Uisce Éireann is not serving the best interests of Lower Ormond at all. “It's also obvious that many other Municipal Districts are way ahead of us. They are sprinting ahead of us.”
The one bright light at the moment, Cllr O'Meara added, is the news that €49 million has been granted for the upgrading of the WWTP in Nenagh Town. “Hopefully we will see the upgrading work on Nenagh WWTP commencing in the very near future.”
Cllr Joe Hannigan agreed with Cllr O'Meara. “The Uisce Éireann infrastructure in Lower Ormond is not fit for purpose in a number of areas. The Cloughjordan issue has been going on for years. Ballycommon isn't fit for purpose either and nor is Puckaun.” Cllr Hannigan pointed out that he and Cllr O'Meara were not just speaking about social houses, but about houses to buy. For example, the 35 housing development in Ballycommon would be houses to buy, plus 20% social housing.
Cllr Hannigan pointed out that the lack of housing has led to a supply and demand issue which has sent house prices skyrocketing in North Tipperary.
He said the Councillors had a meeting with Uisce Éireann recently, but, with the exception of Nenagh Town's WWTP, the news wasn't positive. “They said it will be 2029 or 2030 before upgrading work is done on Cloughjordan WWTP.”
The Councillor added that there are some good grant schemes available, such as the Croí Cónaithe grant. “There's a good buy-in from members of the general public for Croí Cónaithe,” he remarked, “but it would be a higher buy-in if the WWTP infrastructure was upgraded.”
Cllr Seamus Morris pointed out that the Council is not tackling small repair jobs in Council houses quickly enough. “I know of two ladies who have been waiting for new doors for four years and they are being told the money isn't there. I think there's something wrong with our housing budget. I am being told the budget has run out. I would like to see a proper breakdown of the housing budget. And these women were told quite some time ago that they would have their doors but the doors still haven't been installed.”
Cllr Fiona Bonfield agreed with Cllr Morris. “Some of the Council's housing stock is old,” she remarked. “I have had representations regarding this kind of thing as well. We really need to look at our housing budget because we should be able to afford things like this.”
Cllr John Carroll and Pamela Quirke O'Meara agreed with Cllr Bonfield. “I know of some tenants,” said Cllr Quirke O'Meara, “who are paying the maximum rate but they are still waiting for repairs to their houses.”
Cllr Bonfield asked when will the works on Nenagh WWTP start, but she didn't receive a definitive answer.
Cllr Morris pointed out that there's good news in Tyone, Nenagh, because 67 Respond social houses are currently being built there. “Nenagh Town is ready to take off. The one thing holding it back is housing, therefore the upgrading of the WWTP cannot come quickly enough.”
He said the EPA report about the WWTP in Ballina-Killaloe was “a big shock.” The EPA said wastewater treatment for the Ballina-Killaloe area is not meeting the required standards. Uisce Éireann is working on upgrades to the Ballina-Killaloe WWTP, but has stated there are still challenges ahead.
Cllr O'Meara commented that in certain parts of Tipperary “developers are saying it is not viable to build houses. Galway and Offaly are streets ahead of us in this regard; as are some Tipperary towns such as Clonmel and Roscrea. I attended a meeting in Cloughjordan two years ago and we were told the WWTP project would get under way in a couple of months and yet now we are still no nearer. Whatever we are doing it is just not working. It begs the question, what are other local authorities doing differently which is not happening here?”
In an official statement Uisce Éireann said the €49 million upgrade to Nenagh Town's WWTP will expand the plant’s capacity from 12,000 to 19,800 population equivalent, “enabling it to meet the needs of a growing population and ensure compliance with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive and EPA licensing requirements.”
Cllr Morris commented that the €49 million is “great news indeed.” Following the Nenagh MD October meeting he sent an email to the powers that be, stating, “Can I ask when the project is due to start? How long will it take? Can I have a copy of the construction traffic management plan which was part of the planning conditions and can I have a breakdown of the €49 million projected cost?”