The European Commission has escalated formal infringement proceedings against the State over its failure to deliver the long delayed Gweedore sewerage scheme.
The Commission has expressed a reasoned opinion that the State is violating the law over its failing to provide a waste water collection network for Gweedore.
The construction of a dedicated sewerage scheme for Gweedore is said to be an obligation by the State, and as the community have been waiting more than forty years, the lack of action may now be in violation of EU legislation.
The action comes following the submission of a report by Sinn Féin Deputy Pearse Doherty and Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy to the European Commission back in May 2015.
The argued that the failure by successive Governments here to construct a dedicated sewerage scheme for Gaoth Dobhair was in direct violation of the EU’s Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
Sinn Féin Finance Spokesperson Deputy Pearse Doherty today welcomed the news that the case is being progressed by the European Commission.
Commenting on the news, Deputy Doherty said:
“While this decision by the European Commission is to be welcomed, it is utterly unacceptable that due to the failings of successive Governments to deliver this scheme for Gaoth Dobhair, that they have allowed this situation to develop and to manifest to the point that infringement procedures, and now likely legal action, will be brought against the State.
“Residents and businesses throughout Gaoth Dobhair have been waiting more than forty years for a sewerage scheme for the area, and they have been kept without such a service as a result of incompetence from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governments both past and present.
“I understand now that the Minister and his Department are currently preparing a response to the Commission’s findings reasoned and that a response will include an update on the Government’s position in relation to the Gaoth Dobhair scheme.
“The Government clearly must now give a start date for when the Gaoth Sewerage Scheme will proceed to construction, and I will continue to hold them to account and work until this is achieved.”
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