Call on minister to provide new water treatment plant in Achill

THE fight for a new water treatment plant in Achill is to be brought directly to Local Government Minister Darragh O’Brien.

The treatment plant failed over the summer, resulting in water being tanked in to supply locals and visitors.

A recently ministerial announcement of a €250,000 investment in the plant - €100,00 this year and the remainder in 2021 - was described as 'chicken feed' by local Councillor Paul McNamara at a Westport-Belmullet Municipal District meeting this afternoon.

The money, he said, was not going to solve the problem. “The reality of the situation is that the plant is totally outdated.”

Councillor McNamara acknowledged the work being done by the council and Irish Water. However, their hands were tied as the plant is not on the capital investment programme.

The businesses and people of Achill were entitled to a proper water supply, and he questioned what backup plan was in place for when a situation like last summer arose again.

He called on Minister O'Brien to provide a new plant under some emergency scheme, a call supported by his colleagues.

A meeting is to be sought with the minister, with Councillor Brendan Mulroy making the point that it would be a disaster if the water system was to fail again next year.