Call made for action on wastewater crisis in County Waterford

A call has been made for Bonmahon to be included in Uisce Éireann's Growth Programme, to address a wastewater crisis in the area.

The matter was raised by Sinn Féin TD for Waterford, Deputy David Cullinane, who said there were serious concerns regarding failures of Uisce Éireann to address wastewater infrastructure deficits in small coastal and rural communities, specifically the village of Bonmahon, in County Waterford.

Speaking in the Dáil on Wednesday, January 14, Deputy Cullinane said: “Bonmahon is a growing coastal village and an important tourism destination, yet its wastewater system is wholly inadequate. The network regularly fails creating pollution risks, threatening public health, and damaging the local environment."

“This is not a new issue. It is long-standing, well-documented, and repeatedly raised by Waterford City and County Council," he said, before adding: "Despite this, Bonmahon has again been excluded from Uisce Éireann’s Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme. That decision is deeply disappointing and, frankly, unacceptable."

“The Council has supplied extensive evidence to Uisce Éireann, but gaps in monitoring and a lack of proactive assessment appear to be preventing Bonmahon from being fairly considered for investment," he said. 

“The reality is this: communities like Bonmahon are being held back, not because there is no need, but because there is no action. Homes cannot be built, businesses cannot expand, and environmental protections are being compromised due to chronic underinvestment in basic infrastructure."

Deputy Cullinane went on to comment: "Other villages with comparable challenges have secured funding under this programme. Bonmahon should be treated no differently. Rural and coastal communities deserve the same level of service and urgency as larger urban areas. I am calling on the Minister to intervene to instruct Uisce Éireann to urgently reassess Bonmahon’s eligibility, to engage meaningfully with the local authority, and to ensure that small communities are not left behind in national infrastructure planning."

“Bonmahon deserves better, and the people of Waterford deserve answers," he said.