This article is from page 12 of the 2006-05-09 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
CLARE County Council have revealed a €40 million shortfall in capital funding for the County’s water services program.
Alec Fleming, County Manager made the announcement at yesterday’s monthly meeting of Clare County Council at which members debated the lack of progress on the County’s water services investment programme.
Mr Fleming said that the provision of sewage treatment plants across the county was the “single biggest issue” facing the council at the moment.
Mr Fleming said that the Council was working hard to address the shortfall.
“On the positive side it does seem that a number of schemes are progressing and we are expecting progress on the Services Land Initative (SLI).
“The biggest problem is with sewage problems across the board, it is the single biggest issue facing us at the moment.
“We are negotiating that process. I would also like to tell councilors that there is a big capital shortfall.
“There is between a €40 to €50 million shortfall in the water services programme which we addressing,” said Mr Fleming.
Councilors had earlier called for updates on on the progress of water treatment proposals currently with the Department of Environment and Local Government.
The long running saga over the wait for treatment facilities in rural areas again came in for sharp criticism.
Cllr Joe Arkins raised the issue of the delay in a foreshore loicense for Ballyvaughan and Doolin.
“We have supplied all the necessary information and complied with all the conditions, why is it not progressing.
“We have been given no reason why these schemes are not progressing, this is not appropriate.”
Cllr Richard Nagle said the blame lay firmly at the feet of the governmnt and that the wait for water services was a disgrace.
“It is an absoloute scnadal, just when towns were about to benefit, the department moves the goalposts.
“We have been waiting two years for a foreshore license for Doolin and it has been years years since funding was announced.
“We are blue in the face talking about it at this stage, not €1 has been spent on the development.”
Tom Carey, Director of Services, said the Council was putting the department under pressure, but that no definite timeline had been given for schemes in Feakle, Quitly and Scariff, Cooraclare and in Doolin and Ballyvaughan.
He added that engineering difficulties had delayed the installation of the interim water treatment plant for Ennis.