Limerick Fine Gael TD Patrick O’Donovan has welcomed the commitment he has received from Irish Water today that the sewerage scheme in Athea is to be upgraded. This follows a number of meeting and discussions Patrick has had recently with Irish Water and the Minister for the Environment, Alan Kelly TD in relation to the sewerage scheme. Irish Water plan to use the scheme in Athea as pilot project for schemes of a similar nature across the country.
“Following my many meetings with Irish Water and the Minister, Irish Water carried out a review of existing proposals for the Athea Wastewater Treatment Works as well as an on-site inspection and determined that a re- scoped project would be both sufficient and viable. Irish Water will now appoint a consultant to design an upgrade of the existing plant over the coming weeks. This design will accommodate the upgraded works on the existing site and will provide full secondary treatment in the most sustainable manner.”
“I have asked Irish Water for a timeline in relation to the proposed works and they envisage that the design works will take 3 months, during which time planning permission will be sought from Limerick City & County Council. On completion of detailed design and receipt of planning permission, they expect that they will be able to deliver an operational plant within 12 months. Irish Water will also be carrying out a separate review of the existing pumping station and core elements of the network, so that these can be addressed in tandem with the plant.”
“I know from the time I was a Councillor during the years 2003-2011 and since I became a TD that the issue of the sewerage scheme in Athea is a major issue in the community there. At several times during the years of the Celtic Tiger the area was promised that the scheme would be prioritised. Instead of making progress it was bundled together with several other schemes and none of them progressed an inch. I asked both the Minister and Irish Water to begin unbundling these schemes and unravelling the bureaucracy around them so as to get them started. I also impressed upon them the need to have realistic size projects designed for these communities rather than the elaborate grandiose schemes that were designed during the so-called boom years and which would never be built.”
“We know that for donkey’s years that untreated and partially treated effluent is being pumped out from Local Authority operated waste water treatment plants. This would not be tolerated if it was from industry or farms and yet for years nothing was done. I’m glad that at least now there is a plan to tackle these and I am glad that Athea is being prioritised and the model used in Athea will be used across the country”
I am delighted that the strong case I put forward for Athea has been acknowledged by Irish Water with their commitment today. I am very anxious to see progress made on schemes across the County like Athea now that a utility like Irish Water has been established. I have asked Irish Water if they would meet with the local community regarding the scheme in the coming weeks and they have agreed to this request.