Uisce Éireann described as ‘biggest mistake' to ever happen in Ireland as Wexford council seeks ways to build in rural areas
'The County Development Plan is now open for review and there's an opportunity for this municipal district to have a say in the direction the town and villages will take over the next 15 years,' said Cllr Sheehan. 'There's vast tracts of land in this town that need to be rezoned for housing.'
With regards to providing water services for housing developments which wouldn't have access to the Uisce Éireann (UE) mains, Cllr Marty Murphy said Wexford County Council (WCC) should simply proceed without the national utility company.
'My understanding is small developments in rural areas will be allowed to build their own treatment plants which is fantastic news, because our villages are dying due to planning laws,' he said. 'Do we have villages which will be targeted under that? We need to move on from UE because, as far as I'm concerned, it is the biggest mistake to ever happen in this country.'
In response, a member of WCC planning team said they had not been informed of which villages had been targeted but they would find out and revert back to Cllr Murphy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
16 hours ago
- Irish Independent
161-hectare Cork solar farm refused permission amid fears of impact on sensitive archaeology
Aglish Solar Farm Limited had applied for a 10-year permission to put solar panels on six parcels of land around the southern bank of the river Lee, about 25 km west of Cork city. The solar farm did not include battery storage and was to connect to the grid using a new substation on the site. The application said that the solar farm would have an operational lifespan of 40 years and would generate enough electricity to power almost 49,000 homes. Cork County Council refused the application, stating that 'the applicant has not demonstrated that sufficient archaeological investigations have been undertaken to guide the proposed development towards preserving in-situ potential archaeological features and thereby safeguarding archaeological heritage.' The area in which the solar farm was to be built features a number of standing stones, fulacht fiadh (Bronze Age cooking pits) and other objects of archaeological interest. In its decision document the council said that the proposed development would contravene the County Development Plan, seriously injure the amenities of property in the vicinity, and set an undesirable precedent. 'The proposed development is therefore contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area,' it concluded. The application received over 200 objections expressing concerns about the environmental and health implications, the scale of the development and a lack of community consultation. Aglish Solar Farm Limited has four weeks to lodge an appeal with An Coimisiún Pleanála. A company spokesperson told the Irish Independent that the company is currently reviewing the council's decision and 'the probability is that we will appeal it.' Cork has become a hotspot for solar farm projects. In July alone Cork County Council granted permission for a 47-hectare solar farm between Rathcormac and Castlelyons and a battery storage facility in Curraduff, Newmarket.
Agriland
a day ago
- Agriland
Farm orgs: Farmers shouldn't 'feel pressured' by water supply offer
Farm organisations have been involved in negotiations with Uisce Éireann. The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) and the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) have said that they have been involved in a negotiating process with Uisce Éireann on the 'Water Supply Project Eastern and Midlands Region' for a number of months. The process was undertaken with a view to agreeing a package that would be offered to landowners whose lands are on the proposed pipeline route. According to the farm organisations, Uisce Éireann has sent an offer pack out to farmers on the route. While the discussions between the negotiating teams have ended, the final outcome has yet to go before the governing bodies of both organisations for approval. Prior to the negotiations commencing, both the IFA and ICMSA made it clear to Uisce Éireann that approval "would be sought and required". In a joint statement released today (July 30), the farm organisations said that they advised Uisce Éireann that they would put the proposed agreement to the scheduled meeting of their respective governing bodies in early September. According to the IFA and ICMSA, the compensation package and associated items will still be put to the governing bodies for approval at that point. The organisations said that they are disappointed that Uisce Éireann chose to issue the offer pack to landowners in the absence of a final agreement with the the groups. They claimed to have told Uisce Éireann that its September deadline for farmers to accept the offer is "far too premature", and suggest that the deadline is extended by a number of weeks. Both organisations will issue a further update once the package has been brought in front of their respective governing bodies. The IFA and the ICMSA have advised farmers on the route to take the time to read the package on offer, and consult with qualified advisors. They said that farmers should "not feel pressured" by the communication from Uisce Éireann.
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
Planning sought for new wastewater plant in Cork village
Uisce Éireann lodged planning permission to Cork County Council for the WWTP in Castlemagner. Minister for Special Education and Inclusion and Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North-West, Michael Moynihan, has welcomed the planning by saying: 'I have been a keen advocate for the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Castlemagner for several years so it's very welcome to see the planning application now submitted to Cork County Council. 'Having engaged with the relevant ministers and Irish Water (Uisce Éireann), we had already secured Castlemagner's inclusion in Irish Water's Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme, a critical step that prioritised the development of this much-needed infrastructure,' Mr Moynihan explained. The construction of the facility is seen as a significant step for the village's future development and will play a huge role in increasing the number of houses in the area. "The submission of this planning application is a testament to the hard work and collaboration that has gone into pushing this vital project forward for Castlemagner. 'It's well recognised that water infrastructure is one of the key enablers for housing and this new wastewater treatment plant is absolutely essential for the sustainable growth of the community, enabling much needed housing development and improving local infrastructure. 'With a decision due from the [Cork] County Council mid-August, I am committed to ensuring the project advances as swiftly as possible, and will continue to engage with all stakeholders to expedite the delivery of this critical infrastructure for the people of Castlemagner,' Mr Moynihan concluded.
