Sinn Féin Councillor Marie-Therese Gallagher has today welcomed the decision by Irish Water to scrap controversial plans to decommission Lough Anna as a public water source and has praised the local community for their successful campaign to retain the lake.
Cllr Gallagher made her comments this morning at a briefing session held at Donegal County Council offices in Lifford where it was announced that Irish Water has now decided to abandon plans to service the region with an alternative water source as part of proposals to reconfigure the local water network.
Speaking at this morning’s meeting Cllr Gallagher said: “I am absolutely delighted with the announcement this morning from Irish Water that the company has correctly decided to not close Lough Anna as part of the upgrade work to be carried out to the Glenties water supply.”
“When these controversial plans were first put forward earlier this year, local residents were extremely angry about the proposals as they felt that the water quality in Lough Anna was vastly superior to the alternative sources being considered.”
“My party colleague Deputy Pearse Doherty raised the issue with both Irish Water and Minister Alan Kelly following which the Minister agreed to instruct the company to revise the proposals.”
“Since then other options have had to be considered by the utility, and at today’s meeting in Lifford, Irish Water has confirmed that Lough Anna will now not be closed and will continue to supply good quality water to the region.”
“Additionally, I very much welcome Irish Water’s decision to also carryout improvements to water quality in Fintown which has been plagued by poor water quality issues for many years now.”
“This is of course a tremendous result and full credit for this outcome today needs to go to the local people who have passionately and intelligently fought their corner from day one. They quickly came together and led a phenomenal campaign against the plans and have been outstanding throughout this entire process.”
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