Residents in North Mayo urged to sign up to water scheme

Fears that funding of over €2 million will be lost to North Mayo if locals do not subscribe to a planned new community water connection scheme were voiced at a meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District on Monday.

Local councillor Gerry Coyle said €2.1m had been allocated for the water scheme in Porturlin, Carrowteigue, Shrataggle and Portacloy, but the money would have to be returned to the State if there was no local "buy-in". He said it would be "a disaster" for the community if the scheme did not proceed. 

"I ask people please to join the scheme. I know the cost of around €2,250 per household is significant, but it is an investment in the future and not just for today. If the fire brigade was to be called to this area it could only bring what is in the tank and whatever they can pump from the lake, but this new treatment scheme will have fire hydrants and all sorts of infrastructure put in. 

"If a decision is made to put in smaller pipes instead, the people not joining now will not be able to join in the future.” 

Cllr Sean Carey supported the call, saying the scheme is so important for the area, adding: “I know some has contributed and paid the money but a big percentage must still do so for it to proceed. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and if it doesn’t proceed it won’t happen again. The funding is there from the Department (of Housing, Local Government and Heritage) and no group could go back and look for it again if it is not taken up now. I appeal to all to make their contribution and get it up and running, as it is so badly needed, between so many activities and tourists and the Coláiste and schools. So many are depending on this scheme to come.” 

Cllr Carey said the issue was serious enough that he would urge people to contact their local credit union or bank to borrow the money if necessary, adding: “I know it is a substantial amount but in the long term it will increase the value of a property, everything will increase, so it is important to secure it for the whole community.” 

Cllr Brendan Mulroy recalled a similar situation with a group scheme outside Westport, noting that General Municipal Allocation (GMA) money had been used to bridge the gap in funding. However, Cllr Coyle noted that the gap is too big for the Carrowteigue scheme to be bridged in such a way.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Peter Flynn stated: “This is very similar to a situation we had in Murrisk and Kilsallagh and Lecanvey, where only 200 of the 500 households had signed up. I strongly recommend the Carrowteigue group talk to the Murrisk committee to see what we did there because in the space of six to eight weeks, we ensured the 200 rose to 500. It was a huge effort by the council carried out in association with the local media to make it happen. This is a once-in-a lifetime opportunity and it would be criminal to lose out if people did not understand what this scheme is and what would be lost if it did not happen.”

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.