'Reminder' for TDs about west Mayo sewage concerns

PRESSURE is coming on Mayo's five TDs over the Newport sewage scheme, which won't see a treatment plant constructed before 2030.

Uisce Éireann, the EPA and Mayo County Council have been accused of standing idly by as raw sewage has and continues to flow into Clew Bay.

The county's Dáil representatives were written to about the situation, following a request by councillors in the Westport-Belmullet Municipal District, but no response has been received.

Councillor Peter Flynn has requested that they be sent a 'reminder', saying the council has no authority over the utility but the TDs oversee was they do and it's beholden on them to come back with a response.

Mayo County Council, he said, stood idly by when they were in control of the plant before Irish Water took it over and they were every bit as responsible as Irish Water.

Irish Water had lied to the people of Newport for the last 10 to 12 years, said Councillor Brendan Mulroy. They never had a plan.

Raw sewage was flowing into the bay and not one fine imposed. He had contacted the EPA but they did nothing about it.

The people of Newport are owed an apology, he said. Irish Water, the EPA and council had stood idly by and to this day they still have no plan.

“It's intolerable,” he commented.