
A LIMERICK Senator has slammed the government’s “failure to invest in critical infrastructure, which has now delayed desperately needed housing in Newcastle West for years”.
Those were the words of Sinn Fรฉin Senator Joanne Collins, who described an alleged “neglect of infrastructure of Newcastle West, with no sewage capacity and very limited water capacity” as outrageous.
Senator Collins also claimed that, as a result, a partially developed housing site is now furloughed and boarded up with homes lying empty and purchasers left in “no man’s land”.
Uisce รireann outlined in a response to Senator Collins that the timeline to increase capacity is still years away, with upgrades to wastewater capacity not estimated to be completed until 2031.
Senator Collins hit out that “successive Fianna Fรกil and Fine Gael government’s have completely neglected investment in vital infrastructure, such as water and wastewater connections, leaving Newcastle West with no sewage capacity and very limited water capacity”.
“As a result, we now have a situation where a new housing development in Newcastle West has had to put up the shutters, with homes lying empty and purchasers lefts in no man’s land.”
The site received planning permission at the end of 2023 and at the beginning of 2024, 81 of the 93 houses had been commenced.
However, none of these houses have been finished because of the issue with water, according to the Askeaton-based Senator.
“In the midst of such a severe housing crisis to have a partially developed site now furloughed and fenced off while families desperate for homes are left with nowhere to rent or buy is scandalous,” Senator Collins said.
“Kilcolman Springs Water Treatment Plant is estimated for completion in 2028, but the project at Tobergal Springs is still at a very early stage with no confirmed completion date.
“More worryingly, there is no capacity for more sewerage inputs at the Newcastle West Wastewater Treatment Plant and therefore no further connections can take place until the WWTP is upgraded, estimated 2031”, she added.
“This lack of infrastructure will not only affect homes, it will affect businesses. Any new business that comes into Newcastle West, or business expansion, might not be facilitated depending on service needs.”