Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State and wish to share some more information with him. Irish Water stated to me in June 2017 that it completed a concept design study recommending a preferred solution for Askeaton sewerage scheme. The project had just received approval to proceed to the next stage, detailed design and planning, which was to be undertaken over the following 12 to 18 months. Could the Minister of State get some timelines from Irish Water in that regard? Is it going to make a decision within the 18 months? Is the design and planning phase going to be completed within 18 months? The language is quite ambiguous. Do we have to wait until the design phase is over before we can hunt for budget for this project?

We have been told it is not part of the 2017-2021 priority list which I believe it should be, given the criteria outlined by what I have read from the local area plan from Limerick County Council before Irish Water took over in 2014. Askeaton will be a spur off the main Limerick to Foynes motorway which will be built and which will include the Adare bypass. This is a strategic town which sits along the Shannon estuary and where several multinational industries are located. Several days ago, the expansion of Foynes Port was announced. It is an EU tier one port which can take the larger container ships being built and can compete with many ports across the world. The motorway is being developed there and Askeaton sits just off that. One is looking at developing these towns which will facilitate the major natural resources of Foynes Port. There is synergy developing in Askeaton. We need to get the town’s water and sewerage schemes along with this.

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