Kilkenny councillors 'astonished' by 'disappointing' revelation

Local councillors were “astonished” when it was revealed that the first Uisce Eireann upgrade in rural Kilkenny will not now start until 2029.

The lack of water services to building land is “hamstringing” any attempts to address the housing crisis, they say.

Cllr Deirdre Cullen expressed her shock at the recent Callan Thomastown Municipal District meeting.

She referred back to an earlier meeting of the full Kilkenny County Council where it was revealed that while a €5 million upgrade has been agreed for Bennettsbridge, work will not begin until 2029.

In terms of the waste water upgrade, Bennettsbridge is first on the list for Kilkenny - meaning “no development can happen in Bennettsbridge, or along the Bennettsbridge line, or other lines, until this is completed,” Cllr Cullen pointed out.

“I was astonished to hear, at the full council meeting, that those works agreed some years ago won’t start until 2029,” she explained.

“We are in a housing crisis and it’s incredible and really disappointing that essential infrastructure would be pushed out further,” Cllr Cullen said.

Letter
To make the frustration of the council known, Cllr Cullen proposed the municipal district write to Uisce Eireann and the minister emphasising how important it is that work begins as soon as possible.

The Bennettsbridge councillor pointed out that people are being encouraged back to live in towns and villages through a number of town centre first schemes, but with no development allowed until water service works are done this is “hamstringing them.”

“Post 2029 is too late. We really have to say something, we can’t just sit in silence and accept that it is any way to do business if we want our towns and villages to flourish,” Cllr Cullen said.
The proposal to write to the minister and Uisce Eireann was seconded by Cllr Joe Sheridan and backed by the other council members.