THE CEO of Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce has warned poor water infrastructure could derail ambitious growth plans for the area.
Toni Forrester made her comments when she addressed a recent Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, discussing cross-border trade and business.
Representatives from Chambers’ of Commerce took part in the discussion in Leinster House, chaired by Committee Leas-Cathaoirleach Deputy David Maxwell TD.
“We are being told by developers that they cannot develop part of the land they would like to develop for housing because there is no water connectivity. We are seeing a little bit of movement. I have to acknowledge that quite a bit of work was done by Uisce Éireann in Rathmullan recently and there is a pipeline, but it is not complete,” she said.
“Letterkenny in particular has a problem with the main water pipeline which has to be replaced. We acknowledge Uisce Éireann is putting money into that but if we are really serious about ambitions to grow, we need to have that infrastructure coming alongside it. That is the biggest issue I have.”
Ms Forrester elaborated on issues around wastewater capacity being experienced in the Letterkenny area, and how it is impacting directly on the development of housing and enterprise in those areas.
“We have ambitions to grow and the national planning framework has ambition to let us grow but unless we have water and electricity infrastructure, I cannot see how those ambitions will be aligned. A planner can apply to build 50 houses but they need water connectivity.”
Ms Forrester pointed to “a whole lot of land across the Swilly that could be developed”, but said current infrastructure is preventing any progress.
“We are very much a chamber that wants development. Without water and wastewater services being developed over there, we are going to struggle.
“If we want young people to come and live in our areas, how do we cope with this issue? That is the main thing. To get affordable housing built, we have to have the water and wastewater connectivity.”