FIANNA Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe has welcomed confirmation by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien that a sewerage scheme will be approved for Broadford in the coming months.
The lack of sewage infrastructure in the east Clare village has been a frustration of local residents for generations now and this news means an end is finally in sight to these woes.
“Broadford residents have campaigned relentlessly for over 50 years for this infrastructure to be put in place,” said Deputy Crowe.
“Today, Minister Darragh O’Brien agreed to visit Broadford on his tour of Co. Clare where he met with PJ Mason and members of the Broadford Action Group.
“The group has been the main driving force for this infrastructure at a community level, but huge credit must also go to local county councillors and the engineering staff of Clare County Council.
“When I was first elected to Clare County Council in 2004, this was very much a live issue and the council in that year purchased land for pumps that would be part of the sewerage network.
“In the years since, they have generated various schematic drawings of how the pipeline would look and more recently have prepared thorough costings.
“For all intents and purposes this is a shovel ready project, and this sets it apart from other unsewered villages, in that once funding is allocated, it can be delivered in a relatively short timeframe.
“Minister O’Brien has put forward a proposal from his department to have a new funding stream for small villages that lack sewerage infrastructure.
“This proposal will make its way forward as part of a National Development Plan review that the government is currently undertaking and Minister O’Brien this afternoon told Broadford residents and elected representatives that he hopes by the end of October to be in a position to approve this.
“This is only eight weeks away and it’s the best possible indication that Broadford and its residents have had that they will have 21st century sewerage scheme.
“Broadford has had far too many false dawns and the lack of infrastructure has meant that the village cannot grow.
“Too many young people have left the village to set up home elsewhere and proper sewerage is seen as an enabler for village growth and the future sustainability of the village.
“I have long campaigned for this to be carried out. This was a priority of mine when I was on Clare County Council and I now hope we’re on the cusp of delivering this essential infrastructure.”
