Leitrim water schemes struggle as funding requests denied

A lengthy discussion took place at March’s Leitrim County Council meeting about increasing difficulty in maintaining group water schemes, with a particular focus on the Mohercregg Group Water Scheme.

Cllr Brendan Barry proposed a motion urging the Council to call on Minister James Browne and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide funding for a UV treatment and pH correction system for Mohercregg scheme.

Cllr Barry explained that the scheme, which supplies from Aghacashel down to Drumcong, was refused funding under the multiannual rural water programme. The group sought funding for a UV treatment and pH correction system on the scheme. 

The application was rejected, with the expert panel advising that the scheme should explore “more sustainable options” by disconnecting from its independent source and connecting to Uisce Éireann’s supply.

“What more sustainable could you have with a clean water source coming out of rock from Sliabh an Iaráinn and it’s able to come to a hundred houses, a national school, a pub, two churches and many other farm connections,” Cllr Barry argued.

He described the water scheme as both sustainable and natural. 

Mohercregg Group Water Scheme was seeking €100,000 to meet required standards.

“It would be far cheaper for the water to come down the mountain instead of trying to put in extra pipes and pumps and all sorts of systems to pump water,” he added.

‘Made in Leitrim’ campaign proposed to strengthen local agriculture

Cllr Justin Warnock proposed a motion to develop a strategy to support and promote Leitrim farm produce under an “Origin Leitrim” brand.

Many members supported the motion.

“We’re on a knife edge in terms of supply and demand of water supply in that whole area, so by adding this to it would make it worse it should be kept local to meet demand,” Cllr McGloin said.

“This is an excellent scheme,” Cllr Prior commented. “€100,000 is not a big ask.”

Cllr Róisín Kenny noted that the water scheme in her parish had also been refused funding and did not want to join Uisce Éireann. “I’d like to think that something could be done to give these schemes a chance to survive on their own,” she said.

Members were informed that Leitrim County Council applied for funding on behalf of the Mohercregg scheme for pH correction and UV treatment. When the application was refused in November 2024, the Council appealed the decision, but the Department maintained its stance. 

Several group water schemes across Leitrim are applying for funding but are struggling to secure it.

Vincent Dwyer, Head of Finance, Water, Environment, Climate Action, and Emergency Services suggested that the issue stems from Government policy.

“There are other schemes who are failing water quality testing and are being refused funding and are being sent down the path of connecting to public supply,” he said.

He explained that the current Government policy appears to be focused on connecting private water group schemes to public supply rather than enhancing their existing infrastructure.

“In our attempts to move these groups forward, we’re encouraging them to connect to public supply because that’s the only option that is being made available to us.”

He emphasised that this is primarily a policy issue that must be addressed by the Government.

It was ultimately agreed to write to the rural water section in Ballina and Uisce Éireann to escalate the matter further.

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