Fitzmaurice not happy with Irish Water deadline
A local county councillor says that Irish Water’s commitment to complete works on water mains beside Carrick NS by the end of the summer is “completely unacceptable”.
Cllr. Paschal Fitzmaurice, left, is calling on Irish Water to bring forward the necessary works to replace the water mains between Ballinlough village and Carrick National School.
His call follows confirmation from Irish Water of its intent to replace the old water mains, which is 40 years old.
Irish Water said it will replace 1,550 metres of problematic water main in Ballinlough which has been prone to frequent bursts causing sporadic water outages for local residents and businesses.
A thorough investigation has been undertaken of a section of water main located along the N60 Ballyhaunis Road out of Ballinlough village which has been the subject of a recent spate of bursts.
The bursts which have been occurring recently are as a result of the age and type of the existing water main.
Irish Water said that it is anticipated that the works will be completed before pupils and teachers of Carrick NS return from their summer holidays.
However, Cllr. Fitzmaurice has described that mooted deadline as being “totally unacceptable to the local people”.
He added: “Irish Water have said they will start work in late July or early August to replace the mains and are indicating that the work will be complete by the 1st of September. This is totally unacceptable to the local people who are very frustrated with this long delay.
“I am calling on the Government representatives to intervene and get Irish Water to start the work immediately”.
Murphy slams Government over fodder
Fianna Fáil TD Eugene Murphy, left, says the descent of the fodder shortage into a “fodder crisis” is yet another example of how out of touch Fine Gael is with rural Ireland. He says the Government must focus on key measures to tackle the problem.
Deputy Murphy was speaking in the Dáil last week during the Fianna Fáil motion calling for the government to take immediate action to remedy the situation.
Deputy Murphy said that much of the Dáil debate had strayed off topic to climate change and forestry and moved away from the key messages and solutions which were needed to address the issue.
“We need to focus on what we need to do. We need to get the GLAS payments that are overdue paid. We need to ease off on the inspections. We need to ensure that the subsidy for transport is revisited. We need to get these kind of things done straight away. The low-cost loan scheme for farmers announced last October also needs to be opened.
“It’s another example of how out of touch Fine Gael is with rural Ireland and farmers who are under serious threat,” said Deputy Murphy.
“I have every confidence in the farming community to rally and make Irish agriculture great again if there is some improvement in the weather but they need our support now,” concluded Deputy Murphy.
