Major funding boost announced for infrastructure upgrades in two Clare villages

Additional funding has been approved for pilot initiative wastewater projects in two popular Clare villages.

The pilot scheme is aimed at improving wastewater facilities in rural areas, with the additional funding has being allocated to the villages of Broadford and Cooraclare.

This pilot initiative will trial wastewater solutions for villages and small settlements that do not have public waste water services available.

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The lack of action in the progression of these schemes was recently raised in the Dail by Clare TD Cathal Crowe, who had stated that these projects are "very welcome news for the communities of Broadford and Cooraclare."

He outlined how the inclusion of both villages in the pilot scheme has been a "huge boost" for them but in the two years since the initial announcement "very little work has been carried out."

Following it being raised in the Dail, Crowe confirmed he has been engaging with Minister for Housing James Browne and with Clare County Council and has now revealed that "the Minister [Browne] has agreed to increase the Government funding for these projects." 

“Very importantly, the increase in funding will be totally Government funded, meaning the existing funding commitment from Clare County Council does not need to be increased.”

The total funding for the Broadford project has increased from €7.3 million to €8 million, with the total project funding for Cooraclare totalling €5.7 million.

He explained that "continued delays are holding back development and are causing damages to their local water bodies", and reaffirmed that he will "continue to work with the Minister, his Department and with Clare County Council to progress these projects as a matter of urgency."