by Kate Heaney
PROGRESS on the long-awaited Bonagee Group Sewerage Scheme has taken a step closer this week.
The development comes after Councillor Donal Coyle was given an update from Minister of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien,TD.
Senator Niall Blaney contacted the Minister at Cllr Coyle’s request to inquire how the group scheme for Bonagee can be expedited and received a reply last Wednesday.
In his letter, the minister acknowledges that the Bonagee Scheme was not successful under the initial €50 million National Development Plan Scheme but states his commitment to bringing forward a secondary round of funding in the coming months.
Cllr Coyle said he believes this letter is ‘further progress’, and he is determined to learn from the feedback on the current application and projects that were allocated funding in the first-round demonstration project model to ensure that a high quality, strong competitive application for the next round of the scheme is submitted by Donegal County Council, as recommended by the Minister.
“I am pleased that my recommendations to ensure provisions for sewerage scheme development works on the new four lane road have been taken on board and ducting for the sewerage scheme has been installed whilst the road works were underway. This is further progress and will lend further support to a strong application for round two of the scheme,” Cllr Coyle said.
In his letter, Minister O’Brien stated that he expected schemes like Bonagee to be considered in the second phase of funding.
“I am aware through your representations of the importance of the scheme in the local area and the central role it could play in facilitating housing and economic growth as well as on environmental grounds.
“I look forward to receiving a strong application on Bonagee. I will move quickly to reach a clear funding decision that Bonagee could benefit from,” the minister added.
Cllr Coyle copied the Minister’s letter to his constituents this week highlighting the fact he is working to have the much-needed scheme progressed.
“I am very pleased that we now have some real traction on addressing this issue. I hope to be in a position to make further progress on this development in the coming months and will update you again on progress in due course,” he said.
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