Water and wastewater infrastructure needed in Laois villages for new housing
Laois TD Brian Stanley called for greater infrastructure to be put in place to support new housing developments
Laois villages such as Ballybrittas, Ballyroan and Borris-in-Ossory could be developed further for housing if water and wastewater infrastructure was upgraded, a Laois TD has argued.
TD Brian Stanley called for more serviced sites for housing in Laois and for the Ballybrittas Sewage Scheme to be put in place in the Dáil recently.
Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Stanley said: "The biggest issues relate to housing and services in rural areas. Sustainable housing is the key in this regard. For that type of housing, we need infrastructure.
"Those engaged in agriculture, forestry and other rural employment must continue to be allowed to build one-off houses on family land or in appropriate locations. There also needs to be housing for a whole lot of people and their families who live in rural areas and who are engaged in other activities."
The Laois TD urged for practical solutions and suggested that serviced sites in and on the edges of villages be part of this.
"These should not be half a mile up the road; they should be where they can be serviced. They could be provided by the local council. Laois County Council is already working on a small number of these but I ask that the Government and the Department get behind them," he explained.
"Serviced sites on the edge of villages could be one quarter of an acre where people build their own houses. These would be in walking distance of the local shops, school, church and sports field, with connected water, sewerage, internet and electricity."
Deputy Stanley emphasised that a major aspect of this requires upgrading sewerage treatment plants and water supply networks.
He told the Dáil: "In Laois, villages such as Ballybrittas, Ballyroan, Ballinakill, Ballylinan, Borris-in-Ossory, Ballycolla and Timahoe could all be developed further if water and wastewater infrastructure were upgraded. Ballybrittas, Timahoe and Ballycolla do not even have a sewerage treatment plant, but they are ideal locations for serviced sites.
In terms of Ballybrittas, he said: "The pumping station there has sewerage capacity for another 150 homes but Uisce Éireann is refusing to allow this to go ahead. It refuses to connect the existing houses in the village. It is trying to pass it back to the council, saying it is up to the council, but the council cannot do it because it is not its responsibility any longer."
He insisted that the village needs a sewerage connection network to the existing houses and to allow for new developments there.
In his concluding remarks, Deputy Stanley said: "One of the interesting things about Ballybrittas is that it is included in Uisce Éireann's small towns and villages programme, but it will not do it. The Department needs to push this. Uisce Eireann needs to be told to get on with this. We need to have these services to provide sustainable rural housing in County Laois."
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme