Mayo councillor welcomes Uisce Éireann's commitment to Newport sewerage scheme

A WESTPORT councillor has welcomed an update from Uisce Éireann which confirms that the upgrade of the Newport Wastewater Treatment Plant remains a priority.

Fianna Fáil councillor Brendan Mulroy received an update on the delivery of the Newport Wastewater Treatment Plant from Uisce Éireann which states that they are still awaiting approval for foreshore licences required to further progress the project.

The project is currently at the Preliminary Business Case stage which involves detailed analysis, as well as developing a short list of solutions, and finding the preferred option from the short list of projects.

“This stage also includes estimating the total cost of the project,” Uisce Éireann told Cllr Mulroy in a response to a request for an update to the project.

“In order to complete this stage of the project Uisce Éireann need to carry out marine surveys and marine modelling to identify the best location for the outfall pipe from the treatment plant and so the foreshore licence is critical to this process.

“Please be assured that Uisce Éireann has prioritised the delivery of a treatment plant for Newport and we thank you and your constituents for your support and patience as we work to deliver the project as quickly as possible,” the statement read.

Despite a commitment to an upgrade of a new wastewater treatment plant, raw sewage continues to flow into sea at Newport, an issue which was first highlighted by The Mayo News in 2016.

The approval of the foreshore licence will allow Uisce Éireann to advance the project to the next stage which involves detailed design of the treatment plant. Once that is completed it will move onto the construction stage which is not expected to begin before the third quarter of 2026.

Cllr Mulroy has been critical of what he sees is the slow progress from Uisce Éireann in the delivery of the Newport project but welcomed the latest update. He said that it shows there is a commitment to progress the project through the various stages and critically funding remains ringfenced for its delivery.

“I am delighted with the update and that the money is ring fenced for the sewerage scheme in Newport. After years of hard work I am delighted to see it at this stage.

“When I first highlighted that raw sewage was flowing into the bay in Newport I would have hoped a new plant would be built by now. It is critical that the foreshore licence is approved to progress the project and that funding remains in place to get it over the line. There is light at the end of the tunnel and a new plant will serve Newport for the next 100 years and longer,” Cllr Mulroy said.