Danny Healy-Rae presses for action on Kilani wastewater crisis
Danny Healy-Rae raised concerns in the chamber about failing wastewater treatment systems at two estates in Ahadon-Kilani and urged the Taoiseach to intervene. He said committed funding — €400,000 previously and €998,000 last year from the minister — remains unused and residents and businesses are suffering after treatment plants overflowed.
The deputy described two estates — the old Kilani village and the virtual estates — where treatment plants are out of date and no longer suitable. He warned that septic tanks or treatment plants overflowed last weekend, affecting a pub and a restaurant and risking pollution of the lakes of Kilani.
Funding was allocated previously, including €400,000 some years ago and a €998,000 commitment last year by the minister, with a reported €300,000 shortfall to be covered by the local authority or another party. Local authorities say they can no longer proceed, have requested wayleaves, and say responsibility now rests with Irish water, creating a standoff that has delayed works.
The Taoiseach said the money appears to have been allocated and urged officials, local authorities and Iska Water to apply common sense and pragmatism to resolve the issue. He said he met with Iska Airden, that the government has increased its allocation and will increase it further for additional capital, and that funding must be ring-fenced for new water supply capacity and wastewater treatment in rural towns and villages.
The deputy stressed the long delay — six years of efforts — and warned of damage to the local tourist economy if pollution reaches the lakes. The Taoiseach said he will follow up and asked the minister to act to get the project moving.
Problem in the estates
The deputy described two estates — the old Kilani village and the virtual estates — where treatment plants are out of date and no longer suitable. He warned that septic tanks or treatment plants overflowed last weekend, affecting a pub and a restaurant and risking pollution of the lakes of Kilani.
Funding and responsibility dispute
Funding was allocated previously, including €400,000 some years ago and a €998,000 commitment last year by the minister, with a reported €300,000 shortfall to be covered by the local authority or another party. Local authorities say they can no longer proceed, have requested wayleaves, and say responsibility now rests with Irish water, creating a standoff that has delayed works.
Taoiseach's response and government funding
The Taoiseach said the money appears to have been allocated and urged officials, local authorities and Iska Water to apply common sense and pragmatism to resolve the issue. He said he met with Iska Airden, that the government has increased its allocation and will increase it further for additional capital, and that funding must be ring-fenced for new water supply capacity and wastewater treatment in rural towns and villages.
Local impact and follow-up
The deputy stressed the long delay — six years of efforts — and warned of damage to the local tourist economy if pollution reaches the lakes. The Taoiseach said he will follow up and asked the minister to act to get the project moving.
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Transcript
Tishik, I have to ask you today about the problem that we have with two estates in Ahadon-Kilani, the old Kilani village and the virtual estates. Their treatment plants are out of date and not suitable any further. And for many years now I've been requesting here inside that they be connected to the public source. On two occasions funding has been made available, 400,000 going back a number of years ago and last year Dara O'Brien committed 998,000. I believe there's 300,000 to be made up by the local authority or by someone, but the local authorities now tell me they are no longer able to deal and ask for way leaves and it is up to Irish water. And there's a standoff between them now, but the people of these two estates are suffering. There's a pub and a restaurant and last weekend these septic tanks or whatever we call them now, these treatment plants, flowed over. You're on top of the hill looking down into the lakes of Kilani and if pollution happens here, it will be detrimental to the whole tourist business in the town of Kilani and far beyond. This is going on for far too long now, the money was committed last year, why isn't it being used and I'm asking you now to intervene here and ensure that for once and for all, I've been at it for six years now and everything is still this. Your time is up, Deputy Healy Ray. Tisach, please respond. Thank you, Deputy, for the issue and I think what's frustrating here is the money has been allocated, it seems to me. The officials on both sides and the local authorities and Iska Water should apply common sense and pragmatism and get this sorted. And I would ask that that would happen and I would ask the Minister. I met with Iska Airden some time back, the government has increased its allocation and will be increasing its allocation further in terms of additional capital money and it has to be ring-fenced not just for the general upgrading of the water system but also for new water supply capacity and wastewater treatment, particularly in rural towns and villages across Ireland. Because things can't move at the moment because of capacity limits in terms of wastewater treatment systems and in terms of water supply systems and I'll follow that up for you. Thank you, Tisach.