Local TD says ‘significant housing development will be held back if service capacity is not increased’ across Laois

A local TD has said that “any significant housing development will be held back if service capacity is not increased” across Laois.

Independent Republican TD Brian Stanley said Laois housing projects “will be stalled by lack of infrastructure,” and noted that it is “essential that wastewater and sewage capacity is upgraded in the coming years.”

The Laois TD was heavily critical of Uisce Eireann, who he said “has not increased the water supply capacity in any Laois town since it came into being 11 years ago, despite the billions of euros that it has received.”

Deputy Stanley highlighted the scale of the problem which affects at least ten towns and villages around Laois.

“Towns such as Rathdowney, Portarlington, Mountrath, Ballylinan and Stradbally have reached or exceeded capacity in relation to water supply,” he said.

“Mountmellick and Graiguecullen have almost reached capacity limits in terms of sewage/wastewater capacity.

“Borris-in-Ossory, Ballinakill and The Swan have reached their limits in terms of both water supply and wastewater treatment.”

Deputy Stanley said if the infrastructure is not upgraded, several of these towns and villages “will have already reached full capacity limits,” which he said would “rule out new housing developments.”

He noted that the Government’s upcoming National Development Plan “must include water and electricity infrastructure” in Laois.

There is also an “electricity capacity issue” in Portlaoise according to the TD, which he said ESB “are working to improve.”

In closing, Deputy Stanley said: “There is a huge demand for Private, Social and Affordable to Buy Housing Schemes across the County.

“Unless Government include Laois in their funding plans for infrastructure and our towns and villages get their slice of the National Development Plan funding, housing in Laois will be stalled.”

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