Galway East TD and Minister for Rural Affairs Seán Canney has said more waste water treatment plants are needed to allow houses to be built in the constituency.
“If we are to meet the demand for affordable housing, we need to provide the necessary infrastructure,” he stated.
“Our National Development Plan is encouraging people to build homes in settlement centres but this cannot be done because of the lack of services.
“County Galway is the second largest county in Ireland but development is stifled because of the lack of waste water treatment plants.
“We have potential growth centres in Craughwell, Corofin, Monivea, Kilconnell, Abbeyknockmoy, Kiltullagh, Corrandulla, Ballinderreen, Ardrahan, Kiltormer, Carrabane, Menlough, Aughrim, Tynagh, Lackagh, Clarinbridge, Kilcolgan and Clonberne but they are all unable to accommodate any new housing development for this reason.
“What is required is joined-up thinking. Instead of having private individuals paying for and maintaining waste water, we should involve developers at the planning stage to provide suitable treatment plants.
“When estates are constructed, the infrastructure for waste water can then be taken in charge by Irish Water subject to the correct standards having been applied.
“This problem must be addressed as a matter of urgency and I am pleased that Galway County Council has started the process by seeking funding from the Department of Housing and Local Government for sewerage treatment appraisals at Corofin, Abbeyknockmoy and Craughwell.
“Infrastructure makes areas more attractive to developers. As well as meeting an enormous need for affordable homes in rural areas, new housing grows local populations and boosts local businesses so facilitating development is clearly the way forward.”

For more information, contact Minister Canney on 086-2513639
February 1 2020