‘Bursting at the seams’: TD raises South Leitrim water capacity issues in the Dáil

The persistent issue of strained water infrastructure and recurring outages in South Leitrim was highlighted in the Dáil by Sligo-Leitrim TD Martin Kenny.

He highlighted the issue as one of three concerns during discussions on the Government’s new housing plan, which aims to deliver 300,000 new homes by 2030, including 72,000 social homes and 90,000 affordable housing supports.

Deputy Kenny described the system’s capacity as “bursting at the seams,” emphasising the need for significant water infrastructure investment in the south of the county. He noted that the shortcomings are affecting planning permission and delaying new housing developments, with Uisce Éireann unable to guarantee adequate water or wastewater services.

“The water in South Leitrim is produced in a plant beside the River Shannon in Carrick-on-Shannon. That covers all of South Leitrim through Drumshanbo, Ballinamore, right over to Carrigallen, Mohill and all of that region. It has been at 110 percent capacity for the past number of years. It is bursting at the seams,” said Deputy Kenny.

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He told the Dáil that when a pipe bursts, residents can be left without water for up to a week due to the time required to refill reservoirs. “The plant cannot cope with the capacity pressure on it,” he said. “There is a real case for proper infrastructure to be put in place as far as Uisce Éireann is concerned, and it is the same with wastewater in many small towns around the country.”

He added that the severe pressure on the water supply is preventing much-needed homes from being built. “That is a serious issue. I know builders who want to build and do not have that.”

In September, it was confirmed that Uisce Éireann is planning a €32 million upgrade to the Carrick-on-Shannon water treatment plant. However, the project is not expected to be commissioned until 2030, a delay that will likely stall housing development in Leitrim for years.

Deputy Kenny also raised concerns about homelessness, stating that the crisis has now spread into rural areas. “We have a lot of people sleeping out in doorways, which we did not have before. We have many people staying with relatives or friends or in their cars. It is something we have noticed in the past couple of months that has come to the fore,” he said, calling for the State to provide its own homeless accommodation.

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“That needs to be looked at in every constituency around the country. They are simply not there. Local authorities are finding it very difficult to find homeless accommodation for people,” said Deputy Kenny.