Call to fine Uisce Éireann over delays in taking Leitrim housing estates in charge

Calls were made to impose fines on entities such as Uisce Éireann who cause undue or unnecessary delays in the process of taking estates in charge.

Cllr Felim Gurn proposed the motion at a meeting of Leitrim County Council, which was unanimously supported. 

“The legacy of housing estates been taken in charge following the crash in 2008 has been frustrating for council staff, and for politicians trying to resolve delays in the process, many of which are caused by Uisce Éireann, who have often hindered the release of builder’s bonds,” the motion stated.

He further called on the Government to introduce legislation through the Dáil and Seanad that will enable such legacy housing estate issues to be resolved quickly and allow for the imposition of fines.

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“We all know there’s capacity issues there that aren’t being dealt with. A commitment of €500 million a year is needed for the next 20 years to resolve capacity issues.

“It’s happening now full scale with any builder who wants to start building housing estates that there’s issues regarding capacity,” he said.

Remarking that this issue has been ongoing for 17 years, he urged that if bodies like Uisce Éireann are not going to cooperate and it’s causing delays, there should be legislation put through the Dáil and Seanad that they “get their act together.”

Cllr Stenson added, “It’s virtually impossible for people to progress and it is one of the major issues that is holding up the development of housing in this county and a lot of other places. It has to be sorted sooner rather than later.”

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Cllr McGloin also remarked that there is a “huge interest” in the county for getting this issue resolved.

It was agreed that Cllr Gurn’s motion would be circulated to other local authorities in the country.