'No capital investment planned for sewage water treatment in near future,' councillor claims

Irish Water has "no capital investment planned for sewage water treatment in the near future" in Carlow, a councillor has claimed.

Cllr Ken Murnane made the claims at a recent meeting of Carlow County Council and said that it was the information he was being given by senior management in Irish Water. 

He said it was of serious concern with Tullow, Bagenalstown and Carlow wastewater treatment plants operating at capacity and that it would stifle new planning applications for industry and housing in the county. 

Meanwhile Director of Services at the Council, Dan McInerney, has said previously that wastewater treatment in Cloneygall is "at capacity" and Irish Water have told the local authority it will be "some time" before it will be addressed. 

Concerns have been expressed over the wastewater capacity of the county's wastewater treatment plants and the impact on housing development. 

Cllr Will Paton also asked if the water utility was any closer to a wastewater treatment plant upgrade for Tullow. 

Chief executive of the Council, Kathleen Holohan, said they are in regular contact with Irish Water to progress capital projects for Carlow and they are arranging more meetings with the water utility. 

Irish Water have been contacted for comment.