Dam ’scandal’
By Laura Glenn
It doesn’t get more ironic than this.
Homes close to Inishowen’s biggest dam are being refused planning permission – because of problems with the water supply.
Inishowen councillor Rena Donaghey demanded answers to the “scandalous” situation at Monday’s Donegal County Council meeting.
She revealed that despite “water pumping down over the steps of the Fullerton Pollan Dam”, one proposed home just a quarter of a mile away was refused planning permission because of an inadequate water supply.
Councillor Donaghey praised the work of the Rural Water Monitoring Committee regarding group water schemes.
However, she said the situation in the Illies was “unbelievable and intolerable”.
Speaking to Inish Times after the meeting, she said she was “deeply concerned”.
She said: “No one would believe this – but it is absolutely true.
“There is something seriously wrong when people living within as close as a quarter of a mile from the water treatment plant and a mile or two from the Dam are being refused permission to build a house.
“Only for the people from the Illies there would never have been a dam and now their sons and daughters are being denied the right to build a home.
“Many of the locals allowed pipes and vital infrastructure to be placed in their land to assist Donegal County Council in completing this magnificent project.”
Councillor Donaghey put the question to the newly appointed divisional manager for water and environment in Donegal County Council as to how and why this is happening and said she wants “a full explanation and early reply”.
At the meeting, county manager Michael McLoone promised to assess the situation.
He said he “would need to get looking at specific questions about the houses up near the Pollan Dam.”
