'Disappointing' - Uisce Eireann response to Kilkenny plea for investment

A letter from Uisce Eireann to Kilkenny councillors has been branded “disappointing.”

The letter, in response to correspondence asking for water infrastructure to be improved in parts of the Callan Thomastown district, was read to the recent meeting of the municipal district councillors.

The councillors had previously highlighted several areas where there is no chance of new housing development because of a lack of water services.

Uisce Eireann, however, responded to say its asset management section could not give concrete spending commitments past 2024.

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Meeting Administrator, Anne Marie Shortall, said she has asked to be notified when there is information available on the body’s future spending plans.

“In other words, they are telling us what we already know,” said Cllr Deirdre Cullen. “It’s very disappointing.”

The Bennettsbridge based councillor added: “I’d like to see Uisce Eireann step up a bit, not feed us back information we already know.”

Cllr Cullen said she hoped adequate investment would be given to the district so that works can progress. “I hope common sense can prevail for Bennettsbridge and other places.”

At a recent meeting of Callan Thomastown coucillors, Cllr Cullen said there are at least 40 housing applicants with Bennettsbridge as their first preference as a place to live, but there’s “not a prayer” of them getting a house in town unless water infrastructure is developed.

Cllr Michael Doyle said he had been giving out about the issue for a long time.
This is “stifling and stopping growth in rural Ireland,” he said.