Sinn Féin Councillor Kenneth Flood has said “it beggars belief that Louth County Council have not referred several estates, numbering hundreds of homes, to Irish Water to progress the ‘taking in charge’ process, despite repeated assurances throughout the year that they have done so.”
In December 2015 Cllr Flood gave a report to Louth County Council on the ‘taking in charge’ of Aston Village and Termon Abbey. Cllr Flood was told that “the developments would be referred to Irish Water to assess and report on their water services prior to commencing the statutory process of taking in charge. During the year I contacted more than one council official on more than one occasion asking for an update on the ‘taking in charge’ process relating to these developments, only to be told that the matter was with Irish Water and no further information could be given.”
Cllr Flood also contacted the Council on behalf of Forest Park and Beaulieu View regarding their taking in charge status only to be given a similar answer.
Cllr Flood said “When no updates were forthcoming I contacted Irish Water directly who informed me that they had received no notification from Louth County Council regarding taking in charge any of these developments.”
“Because this information contradicted that we had been told in the council chamber, via email and over the phone, I put a question to the meeting of the Borough District of Drogheda where LCC confirmed they hadn’t in fact referred the developments to Irish Water, stating that outstanding clarifications were needed before referral. No specific details were given and still have not been given.”
Cllr Flood explained “The home-owners in these developments are obliged by the government to pay local property tax, but because the developments are not ‘taken in charge’ they cannot access all the services and protections that these taxes pay for. In 2014 the Liscorrie estate in Drogheda had all of its street lights turned off for several weeks by the ESB because the developer had not paid its electricity bills. This would not have happened if the estate was ‘taken in charge’ by the council”.
“Last month council officials stated that these matters would be dealt with and an update was expected at yesterday’s Municipal District Meeting. Those clarifications were not forthcoming and we are none the wiser as to when the ‘taking in charge’ process, and the protections and services that tax payers are already paying for that comes with it, will be finalised.”
Cllr Flood said “This is an unacceptable situation and I will be following up on these matters until they are fully and finally resolved”.