29 June 2018
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
Village’s development being stymied by lack of sewerage capacity
Cork North West TD, Aindrias Moynihan has claimed that the growth and development of the village of Coachford is being stymied by poor sewerage and water treatment facilities.
Deputy Moynihan was commenting after raising the matter with the Minister for Local Government, John Paul Phelan in the Dáil.
Cork North West TD, Aindrias Moynihan
“Planning permission is being refused, extreme planning restrictions are being enforced, social housing developments are being slowed down and the opening of new private housing projects is being stalled – all because of a lack of quality.
“The need for new sewerage and water treatment facilities in Coachford has long been clear from an economic, social and environmental point of view. It was proposed in the late noughties but was delayed due to the recession. Since 2014, when Irish Water took over the delivery of these services, there have been constant promises and consistent delays.
“Public representatives from the government locally have claimed time and time again that progress would be made, but nothing has happened in 10 years.
“The frustration of the people of Coachford is real and palpable. The village has such potential. It has a really active community and it wants to get this project going but the national government is failing them.
“The Minister in his reply to me indicated that the project in Coachford would be delivered as part of a bundle. I have serious concerns about this strategy.
“A similar strategy has been used for the construction of a new Macroom Garda Station, and look how long that saga has dragged on.
“When projects are bundled together, the pace is set by the slowest project. The Coachford project is further ahead that others and I am worried that its delivery will be delayed even more.
“The Government need to think about how best to deliver projects of this nature, and not just automatically bundle similar projects together for ease. It’s highly unfair on local communities,” concluded Moynihan.
