Real fears for Uisce Éireann capacity in Louth

Concerns that Uisce Éireann, formerly known as Irish Water, has the capacity for just 1,200 more connections in Louth, was one of the main topics for discussion at the Louth County Council November meeting, held last week at the County Hall in Dundalk.

The matter was first raised by Cllr Maeve Yore, who asked if there was a plan in place for infrastructure, “with all the new planning permissions” being granted in the county. Cllr Yore said that they were told at a recent meeting with Uisce Éireann that “there is 1,200 residences capacity left in the whole of Louth, so I'm really concerned and I want to know if we have a plan in place.”

Replying to Cllr Yore, Temporary Chief Executive, Mr Joe McGuinness, said that: “we continue to engage with Uisce Éireann at a very high level on all water issues in Drogheda and waste water in Dundalk and we have a good ongoing dialogue with Uisce Éireann.”

The response was criticised by Cllr Joanna Byrne however, who said that “that's not an answer”. Cllr Byrne said that they had been raising the issue since 2018 when the councillors visited the Uisce Éireann plant in Stameen. Councillors had been told at that meeting, Cllr Byrne said, that there was concerns that Uisce Éireann was not going to be able to export enough cubic metres per day, to meet the demand at that stage of all the planning development that was going on in the environs of Drogheda.

Cllr Byrne went on to say that “I'm sorry but we need a little bit more from the top table”, and while recognising that it was not Louth County Council's remit, but added that “we have a role to play in this”. She continued, saying that they are “passing planning and we're encouraging developments”, but they need to be sure that the infrastructure is there to support the developments, particularly as housing ramps up around the north of Drogheda.

Cllr Byrne said that she is at the stage, like Cllr Yore, that she is fearful that “this will come to a crunch point at some stage and I think that is coming very soon.” She further added that a analysis meeting is needed with Uisce Éireann on the matter, be it with councillors or the Council Executive, both in terms of the immediate short term capacity, and a look at the longer term also.

Cllr Byrne finished by saying that they needed reassurance from Uisce Éireann, in writing, that the capacity is there to meet the needs, and if it isn't they need to “stall our granting of planning permissions for developments.” She added that it was a decision that no one wants to take but they could not continue to encourage development if the infrastructure is not in place to support it.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Kevin Callan then spoke on the matter saying that at a briefing with Uisce Éireann a week or two ago, he specifically asked them in relation to the situation in Drogheda. Cllr Callan said that in relation to Dundalk Uisce Éireann referred to Blackrock and Haggardstown and “switching the supply over and back”. He added that Uisce Éireann told him that that they would get back to him immediately after the meeting with statistics for Drogheda “but I haven't received them”.

Cllr Joanna Byrne spoke again saying that she has raised the issue at many stages over the past year.

Referring to figures that were made available in 2018, Cllr Byrne said that at that stage there was not much flexibility for much more demand at that stage.

“That's six years ago so I can imagine that's why they're not coming back to you with facts and figures”, she added, further commenting that there was an onus on the Council Executive to “keep it at the forefront of conversations with Uisce Éireann before we move forward with further development.”

Cllr Emma Coffey said that in relation to the briefing from Uisce Éireann, “which was very disheartening, in relation to what they were saying”, there was an inference that in relation to the €1.6 billion that was allocated to Uisce Éireann in the budget, that none of this would be going to Louth.

Cllr Coffey continued, saying that there was more priority in Dublin, Galway and Limerick, adding “given that we're a strategic centre of growth, is something that I find of great concern”, and voiced fears that it would be 2027 at the earliest before there would be any work done in Louth.

Cllr Coffey went on to say that what was very frustrating “for everybody in this Chamber is that we have no power. We have no legislative power now.” She said that it means there will be repercussions as to what is going to happen with Uisce Éireann, who she said is “spending millions I might add on advertising”.

Asking what oversight there is over Úisce Éireann, Cllr Coffey said that “in parliamentary questions, the minister of housing and environment didn't even get his answers to questions answered.” Referring to the huge amount of time they spent on Dundalk Development Plan, Cllr Coffey asked, “what's the point?

“We're doing a review of the County Development Plan next year, what's the point when we have no water infrastructure.”

She added, “we're going through an election and went through local elections but what's the point if one state body to whom Government wilfully transferred powers and oversights from local government, another stripping of power”, further adding that there are “no repercussions”.

Cllr Shane McGuinness said that one area they do have power in is zoning. Cllr McGuinness said that it was their responsibility to zone land and sign off on the County Development Plan and the Dundalk Development Plan. He said that Uisce Éireann is struggling all over Dundalk and Drogheda, and Blackrock and Haggardstown.

“We still have the legislative power to zone land”, he commented. “And we zoned it and we can dezone it.” He continued, saying that “we keep building houses and we keep pumping raw sewage into the sea and as councillors we will ultimately be blamed for that”.

Cllr McGuinnes said there was documentation on Blackrock and Haggardstown about “the million litres of sewage that's being worked on every day and every second Friday they haven't got the capacity”. He added, “maybe its time that its up to us that we looked at parts of Dundalk and parts of Blackrock and Haggardstown that we should change it to low density.”

Noting Cllr Callan's comments that they are still awiting a response on a date request, Cllr Antóin Watters said that he wondered how valid are the meetings with Uisce Éireann. “I asked a query in relation to infrastructure improvements in north Louth and I got no response either, so I think it should be put on the record today that these queries, we're still waiting on them.”

Cllr Pio Smith said he would have sympathy with the council exectutive on the matter, adding that his dealings with the entity over the years have turned out to be a disaster. Referring to a councillors briefing two years ago, Cllr Smith, said they all went as there was so many complaints regarding what he said was misinformation councillors were receiving.

He said that Uisce Éíreann sent a significant number of staff to take on board what councillors were saying, but added that:

“I'm at a loss to find out what kind of compliance or regulatory issues apply to Irish Water, in regards replying to democratically elected members”.

A number of other councillors spoke on the issue, at the meeting, with Cllr Yore asking what plan was in place to address the infrastructure deficiencies and what the plan was for when the 1,200 residence capacity was reached.

Replying to Cllr Yore, the Temporary Chief Executive said that they met with Uisce Éireann. He said they had a productive meeting, adding that there was Louth County Council staff there who had worked on water services and who challenged Uisce Éireann on the solutions it was putting forward, and that it was an ongoing discussion, as was at the top of the agenda of the Council Executive, adding that the Council has no longer any function in water services.

Mr McGuinness further added however that he would revert to Úisce Éireann on the queries that were raised at the consultation meeting with the councillors and see where those responses are.

Cllr John Reilly asked if it was true that there is no link up between the sewage pumping station at the Fane River with the main sewage plant at the Point Road. He asked if it was true that when the Fane Bridge is at capacity, a fleet of tractors and tankers has to transport the sewage to the Point Road. If it was, Cllr Reilly added, he asked if there should be no further development until at least there was a link up of the two locations.

Replying to Cllr Reilly, the Temporary Chief Executive, Joe McGuinness said that while he was not able to go into the mechanics of the operation, he stressed that at the meeting with Uisce Éireann, they went through a number of mitigations and solutions that could be put in place. Mr McGuinness added that Uisce Éireann has gone back to review this and further added that Louth County Council's focus is on improving the capacity in the county.