Water problems could dry up developments in towns and villages

Water - or rather the lack of it - is preventing the development of badly needed housing and is affecting the creation of job opportunities in some of Donegal's rural towns and villages.

The issue was raised by Inishowen councillor, Martin McDermott at last Monday's special meeting of Donegal County Council to deal with its draft County Development Plan 2024-2030.

He claimed while they were in the middle of producing the plan for towns and villages which would include building more houses and generating more employment, Irish Water (Uisce Éireann) was telling developers who wanted to build up houses that they could not support;ly them with water.

"We are doing a development plan but the towns and villages won't have the water infrastructure to develop for three to four years,” he said. “Where does this leave us as a council if we are looking to build social houses or develop towns for the future?"

He said they had to ask Irish Water why did Inishowen not have water when it had the Eddie Fullerton Pollan Dam in the middle of Inishowen which had significant water and was sending it to other parts of the county. He added places like Ballyliffin and Clonmany had similar issues.

"These areas have the same issues when we go to build houses or need it in the summertime. They are dependent on water being pumped from the Pollan Dam on a stinger line put in a couple of years ago but still doesn't bring enough water down to north Inishowen."

He added: Are we going to be signing off on a development plan for areas that can't be developed?"

Letterkenny councillor Ciaran Brogan said he had also raised concerns about water supply on numerous occasions and said he had also asked for a document that would show a traffic light system showing the extent of roads, water and sewerage infrastructure in place. This would identify the challenges each town would have going forward.

"A green light could be attributed to a particular town with infrastructure in place and likewise where progress was being made or a timeline for it an amber light and where there were challenges a red light. It's a simple exercise."

Cllr Noel Jordan said he recognised the same soundbites from the last development plan in relation to water and waste and pointed out many of the smaller towns and villages were at full capacity which meant no room for growth and that was worrying.

"To move forward you need the infrastructure and if you don't have it we are not going to develop the county as a whole."

He added Irish Water had told people in Mountcharles that they had reached over capacity in 2017 and still in 2023 they were waiting for a wastewater treatment plant and this was affectoing the provision of social housing.

"Irish Water need to tell us what they are planning so we can move forward. They ought to know what capacity every town and village holds. That should be put into the County Development Plan so once the plan goes out to consultation everyone will be able to see what their plans and investment and the time scale involved will be," he added.

Cllr Albert Doherty agreed saying there wasn't even a projected timeline for work from Irish Water.

Cllr Nicholas Crossan claimed Buncrana had the freshest and cleanest water supply in the country and that should be used to attract tourists and industry. He added he was disappointed to se little in the plan to suggest Irish Water had a plan.

Cllr Gerry McMonagle said they had the same problem in the Letterkenny area and how the potential to develop it as part of the North-West City Region was being lost as a result. hew felt the Atlantic Technological University's role wasn't adequately recognised within the plan either in terms of servicing it housing and economic needs.

"Irish Water has not committed to even talk to us and see what the needs are."

Another Letterkenny councillor, Michael McBride said he felt serviced sites were the way forward in terms of making sure young people, in particular, had access to housing in the future. Cllr Donal Coyle supported his comments in this regard.

Council chief executive officer, John McLaughlin said no one could answer the water questions as it was now Uisce Éireann who was in charge. He revealed the body asked to meet with the council last week on the future investment needs in Donegal.

He said collectively they should meet with the Government and Uisce Éireann and see what was possible.

"We are right to put our plan together and be ambitious but we also have to be practical and if there is no water or sewer you can't insist on it being built on," he said.

In relation to Cllr Jordan's request the council's director of community development and planning services, Liam Ward advised that this level of detail could be sought but that he was not sure if the same could be delivered by the next council meeting on May 29.

It was agreed the Corporate Policy Group would examine this issue and come back with suggestions shortly.