Conway-Walsh seeks urgent update on water scheme

Sinn Féin election candidate Rose Conway-Walsh has written to Mayo County Council and the Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien to seek an urgent update on the progress of the Carrowtigue/Porturlin Community Water Connection.

Deputy Conway-Walsh said: “Lack of access to water is an ongoing issue affecting many households in the areas of Carrowtigue, Portcloy, Porturlin and Srahtaggle. For far too long these families have had to rely on wells.

"I have raised this issue with Mayo County Council and they have informed me that the Carrowtigue/Porturlin Community Water Connection was not allocated any funding by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage even though it was included in the council’s application to the 2024-2026 Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme."

Deputy Conway-Walsh said the Department had told the council: "The Expert Panel does not recommend the application for funding on the basis of the limited information provided. A more robust business case, in the form of a feasibility study, is needed to enable the proposal to be considered further by the panel. The local authority should engage with Uisce Éireann as part of the process."

The Sinn Féin TD said she found the Department's answer "astounding" because the council had confirmed to her that all of the necessary information was provided to the Department as part of the application.

“Furthermore, extensive work has already been done by Mayo County Council with the Killgalligan and Erris water schemes to prepare for the Carrowtigue Community Water Connection. This was funded by the Department and the required pipeline has already been constructed.

“It makes no sense that the Carrowtigue connection has not been included in the 2024-2026 funding allocation and I have written to Minister Darragh O’Brien to ask him to urgently examine this matter and to find out why Uisce Éireann have omitted it.

“The families in north Mayo have a right to a safe, reliable water source and this simply must be funded as part of the current tranche of works.”