Ballyroan sewage solution is 'clear as muck'

Councillor Mary Sweeney has said that Irish Water have displayed a lack of concern for residents over the treatment of sewage in Ballyroan.

At today’s meeting of the Portlaoise Municipal District, Cllr Sweeney called on Laois County Council to investigate the concerns regarding sewage effluent adjacent to the county council properties at Gleann na Glaise in Ballyroan.

Cllr Sweeney said she was firefighting the problem at the moment, telling people the work would get done.

She received a written response from Mr Michael O’Hora, water services, saying that Laois County Council is engaging with a specialist company in relation to providing a design and full set of working drawings and for appointment as project supervisor for design process for a new state of the art facility within the footprint of the existing building.

The council will then consider its options for completing the construction and for the future maintenance of this new facility in the context of available capital funding.

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald, chairing the meeting, said this response was a bit misleading.

“I’d be worried if I was a resident,” she said.

Cllr Pauline Madigan agreed, saying the response was “clear as muck”.

Mr Michael Rainey, senior executive officer, said that the sewage plant is an Irish Water facility, but as best as it was possible the council would be engaging with them on this matter.

“I have been flogging this dead horse for some time, I’m very concerned there’s not a speedier reaction,” said Cllr Sweeney, accusing Irish Water of having a lack of concern for the residents.

“They’ve known for some time that treatment plant isn’t working properly and it doesn’t get any better. I’m not happy with Irish Water or the council’s water services,” she said.

Mr Rainey again reminded the meeting that the plant is an Irish Water facility, but Cllr Fitzgerald pointed out that Irish Water are not mentioned in the reply from Mr O’Hora.

“The answer is within Laois County Council’s remit,” she said.

“The answer is pure waffle,” added Cllr Sweeney.

Cllr Willie Aird supported Cllr Sweeney’s motion, but said he believed the council’s water services staff were doing great work.