A Donegal County Councillor has once again refuted plans for an outflow sewage pipe on Glenburnie Beach in Moville due to fears of a neap tide in Lough Foyle.
It follows a meeting in Inishowen on Tuesday where local councillors discussed the prolonged issue of an adequate sewerage system in the Moville/Greencastle area.
Irish Water was criticised last December when they were accused of re-introducing the same Moville Sewerage Scheme that was raised almost 30 years ago.
Fears have previously been raised with the water service over an initial 600-metre outflow pipe, which was later reduced to 300-metres, that was planned to be installed on Glenburnie Beach towards Lough Foyle.
Those concerned said that a neap tide could later cause sewage to return and coat the local sand, calling on the plans for the scheme to be moved north of Greencastle where the wastewater could be transported into the open ocean.
Speaking yesterday at the Inishowen Municipal Meeting, Chairperson and local representative, Martin Farren said it was time that Irish Water met representatives ‘halfway’ on the scheme.
He said: “I said from the very beginning, whenever Irish Water were taking on this project, it had to be transparent at all stages and unfortunately they came to the Foyle Hotel with what they called new plans but there was a lot of the old stuff on those plans.
“What I am asking for in relation to putting an outflow pipe out north of Greencastle, that is the only way we are going to get a proper sewage system in Moville and we need it very, very badly,” Cllr Farren added.
“It has to come in as soon as possible but I feel that Irish Water have to meet us halfway on this and identify an area for this outflow pipe.
“It is not going out at Glenburnie Beach and nobody can tell me if there is a neap tide that it won’t come back on the beach again.”
However, Sinn Fein Councillor Albert Doherty questioned whether Irish Water would need permission from the Donegal County Council or the Crown Estate to put the plans into place for Lough Foyle.
“I would really appreciate clarification (on the ownership of the Lough Foyle) because the Crown Estate claim the seabed of the Foyle,” Doherty said.
“If Irish Water wants to put a pipe into the seabed of the Foyle will they have to apply to the Donegal County Council for permission for that outflow pipe in relation to a sewage system into the Foyle or will they have to seek permission from Crown Estate?”
Martin Farren, however, weighing in on the issue, said he would ‘totally dispute’ Crown Estate’s control of the Lough Foyle.
“I was born and raised in Moville my whole life,” Farren said. “I swam in the Foyle and fished salmon in the Foyle and I think as an Irishman I have as much right as the Crown Estate has.
“I would dispute that as the Irish Government have disputed it,” he added.
“So, in terms of them having full control of the Foyle I would be very unhappy and I would like to think that the Irish Government would fight tooth and nail.”
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