Irish Water have committed to putting funding in place for interim works to bring the Mitchelstown Waste Water Treatment Plant up to its maximum design capacity, according to County Engineer, Kevin Moray.

Mr Moray said: “There is active engagement between Irish Water and the council’s operations team on the matter and planning to look at what might be the best way to do this in the short term, to address some of the pent-up demand that’s there in Mitchelstown at the moment as a first measure while the larger project is being pursued.”

Cllr Deirdre O’Brien welcomed the news at Monday’s Northern Committee Meeting, noting that it would offer some ‘leeway’ for houses to be built in the area.

“This will bring the plant up to a level that we could maybe build houses again and give the capacity to serve people locally, because 2025 is just too long to be waiting for houses,” Cllr O’Brien said.

The news has been welcomed by local business man Denis McGrath who has been vigorously pursuing the matter and the issue was also raised in the Dáil by Deputy Sean Sherlock TD.

Full story in this week’s Print & Digital Edition