Mayor appeals for upgrading of existing water supply plants in Tipperary's largest town

The penny isn’t dropping at all with Uisce Éireann (formerly Irish Water) in relation to what Clonmel requires for a public water supply, Cllr John FitzGerald has stated.

Supporting comments made by District Mayor Pat English at a meeting of Clonmel Borough District, he said that it was a real lost opportunity to nail this down in relation to Clonmel.

The town had an actual free supply of water coming “down the hill” from the Poulavanogue and Glenary plants that had been doing their job for generations.

Cllr FitzGerald hoped that this week’s scheduled meeting between county councillors and Uisce Éireann officials in Thurles wouldn’t be as bland as other meetings with the utility company.

“It’s high time that Irish Water realises what’s required and not to be always fire-fighting when things go wrong in Clonmel,” he stated.

Cllr Pat English had requested that Uisce Éireann would again look at upgrading the existing water plants at Poulavanogue and Glenary in the interest of maintaining a water supply for the people of Clonmel and surrounding area, and which would ensure a water supply for future housing and industrial developments in the town.

He said he had made a similar request some years ago but nothing had changed.

Uisce Éireann had stated that the major capital project of extracting water from the River Suir was still on their agenda but Cllr English said there was no money available and this was still way down the line.

The Mayor said that something needed to be done in the short term to ensure that they had a water supply that was fit for the capital town of the county.

The Poulavanogue and Glenary plants had served the town well for a long number of years, he said.

It was always a talking shop when they met with Uisce Éireann officials and nothing ever came out of it, Cllr English added.

Cllr Siobhán Ambrose said they should push to see if the supply from both of the existing plants could be improved and upgraded.

It was difficult for councillors because they didn’t have any input into the workings of Uisce Éireann.

It was a separate body that had nothing to do with Tipperary County Council.

The major plan to extract water from the River Suir wouldn’t happen overnight, she said.

District Manager Sinead Carr said it was important that as many councillors as possible attended the meeting with Uisce Éireann in Thurles, to show that there was genuine concern about the water supply.