Galway sewerage plant flouts planning conditions
Galway City’s sewerage treatment plant on Mutton Island, which has caused controversy since its inception, appears to be an unauthorised development.
The Connacht Sentinel has learned that the facility could be operating in breach of planning conditions for possibly as long as seven years.
Neither Galway City Council nor Irish Water have been willing – or able, it appears – to dispel the suggestion that the facility has breached up to four of the five conditions of planning laid-down by An Bórd Pleanála in 2007 as part of an upgrade.
This is despite repeated queries to the authorities from this newspaper over the past fortnight.
The City Council did not answer questions, and instead said it was a matter for Irish Water, even though the planning conditions predate the establishment of Irish Water.
Irish Water, meanwhile, issued a one-line statement that answered a question that was not asked, while ignoring several questions that were asked.
The apparent lack of compliance with conditions set-out by An Bórd Pleanála, could have serious implications for plans to expand the Mutton Island facility further.
Three conditions of planning in relation to Mutton Island, which appear not to have been met by Galway City Council, relate to monitoring at the plant and the publication of details of the monitoring.
It is unclear what action can be taken against the Council if it hasn’t complied with the planning conditions; and it’s also unclear who would take the action, given that it is the body responsible for planning enforcement in the city.
Read the full story in this week’s Connacht Sentinel