Mayo community left waiting and waiting for water supply
A MAYO community consisting of 500 households is still fighting for a domestic running water supply.
Residents of Porturlin, Portacloy, Srahataggle and Carrowteige cannot understand why they are being left waiting. . .and waiting.
Deputy Alan Dillon has been fighting their cause and has outlined the urgency and importance of their scheme being considered in the future multi-annual rural water programme from 2022 to 2025, which needs to be expedited.
During an Oireachtas committee meeting he asked Graham Doyle, the secretary general of the Department of Local Government, why it has not been published and to explain the reason for the delay.
Mr. Doyle: “I am not sure of the reason for the delay but I absolutely take the point in regard to Mayo. It has the highest proportion. Only Galway rivals it in any way in regard to the number of private group water schemes.
“In regard to the 2019 to 2022 programme, I believe about 18% of the total funding has been paid through Mayo County Council.
“The importance in that part of the country is recognised.
“We have significantly increased the funding overall on this scheme over the past number of years.”
Deputy Dillon: “There was an underspend of €8.4 million in 2021 in this regard. What is the commitment in the department for the future programme?
Mr. Doyle: “The commitment is to provide the funding if the local authority is there to draw it down and to work with these schemes.”
Deputy Dillon: “In regard to the next programme, the 2022 to 2025 programme, what is the department committing to the actual delivery of the rural water programme?”
Mr. Doyle: “I believe we have that under the National Development Plan.”
Deputy Dillon: “The real issue is that the local authority still has not received a request for a submission. We are now in 2023.
“It is causing huge concern among communities in north Mayo.”
Mr. Doyle: “If there is an issue with that, I will write. Our budget for 2023 is just under €68 million. We are providing the funding.
“We are willing to work with local authorities on this. We absolutely recognise the importance of it.”