Kerry County Council has confirmed that work will start on the Kilcummin Sewerage Scheme in 2020 – more than 13 years since discussions around the planned scheme began, and a further year after the last estimated start date.

A meeting of Killarney Municipal District this month was told that Irish Water is advancing the project and is carrying out investigative works in the locality, which is a long-awaited and has delayed roadworks and housing applications in the Kilcummin area.

The council also confirmed that negotiations on land acquisition is ongoing – a response that angered Cllr Donal Grady who said he was simply ‘gobsmacked’ that this was still being done given that the project has been on the cards for many years.

“I am gobsmacked to think that we are still looking at land acquisition. This is unreal,” he remarked.

Source The Kerryman

I have continuously highlighted this issue since elected to Kerry County Council. Below are a list of the motions I have raised on the sewerage scheme

28/01/2015- Killarney MD
Question: Can I have an update on the sewers in Kilcummin?
Reply: Kilcummin Sewerage Scheme is included in the Irish Water Capital Investment Plan (2014 to 2016). In recent discussions with Irish Water, the company has confirmed that it is to have all options for the scheme independently reviewed and will select the solution it deems most appropriate.

29/07/2015-Killarney MD
Question: That this Council would be provided with an update regarding Kilcummin sewer.
Reply: The detailed design and contract documents for the Kilcummin Sewerage Scheme are currently being prepared by a Consulting Engineer, on behalf of Irish Water, to enable the project to go Tender. It is the understanding of the Council that the proposed Scheme will consist of a sewer pipeline, the route and details of which have not yet been finalised, to connect to the existing network in Killarney. It is anticipated that the project may go to Tender in 2016.

07/10/2015-Killarney MD
Question: What is the up to date position on the provision of a sewer from Kilcummin to Killarney?
Reply: The Scheme is included in the Irish Water CIP 2014-2016. Irish Water has informed Kerry County Council that the Scheme will be constructed. The detailed Design and Contract Documents are to be reviewed / prepared by Consultants to enable the project to go Tender in 2016. It is planned that the Documents will be completed by the year’s end.

13/04/2016-Killarney MD
Question: Update on the sewer from Kilcummin to Killarney.
Reply: Irish Water has stated that the Design Engineers are due to finalise the Report, which will include the recommended solution for Kilcummin Sewerage Scheme, within a matter of weeks.

15/06/2016- 14/09/2016-Killarney MD
Question: Please provide an update on the sewer from Kilcummin to Killarney.
Reply: Irish Water has informed Kerry County Council that the design of the scheme has been progressed to the point where Irish Water is now carrying out a final internal review of all options. The preferred design will be chosen in a matter of weeks and Irish Water will then continue with the necessary statutory processes, including Planning and land/wayleave acquisition. Irish Water expects that the Planning application will be lodged before the end of 2016, with construction commencing later in 2017, following contract procurement.

23/11/2016-Killarney MD
Question: What is the update in relation to the laying of new sewer from Kilcummin to Killarney?
Reply: Irish Water expects to apply for Planning Permission for the scheme prior to the 31st December 2016. The project involves the construction of approximately 8.5km of new foul sewers and a pumping station, to connect to the existing sewerage scheme in Killarney. No further information on the route has been made available. The Planning application will include the details of the pipelines.

01/02/2017-Killarney MD
Question: What is the update in relation to sewer and road from Killarney to Kilcummin Post Office.
Reply: This project, which is being designed to address the wastewater treatment needs of Kilcummin Village, involves the construction of approximately 8.5km of new foul sewers and a pumping station, to connect to the existing sewerage scheme in Killarney. Irish Water has prepared the necessary Planning Application and is currently mak-ing arrangements for its submission to Kerry County Council’s Planning Department. It is expected that the application, which will show the layout of the scheme, will be lodged in the coming weeks.

05/04/2017-Killarney MD
Question: What is happening with the sewer from Kilcummin to Killarney?
Reply: The Planning Application for Kilcummin Sewerage Scheme which was submitted on the 20th February 2017 by Irish Water to Kerry County Council is currently under consideration.

07/06/2017-Killarney MD
Question: Update on the road and sewer from Kilcummin Village to Killarney with the exception of Park Hill as this part of the road is about to be done.
Reply: The decision by Kerry County Council to grant permission for the Scheme has been appealed to An Bord Pleanála and its decision is due on or before the 22nd August 2017.

26/07/2017-Killarney MD
Question: What is the update on Kilcummin Sewer?
Reply: The decision by Kerry County Council to grant Permission for the Scheme has been appealed to An Bord Pleanála and its decision is due on or before the 22nd August 2017

06/12/2017- 02/02/2018- Killarney MD
Question: What progress has been made in relation to Kilcummin Sewerage Scheme and details on up to date route.
Reply: Kerry County Council’s decision to grant Planning Permission for the proposed Scheme was upheld by An Bord Pleanála in early October 2017. There are some Wayleave issues outstanding. Irish Water has replied to a recent Dáil Question that it plans to go to tender in 2018 and construction in 2019 for the proposed Scheme, the cost of which is provisionally estimated at €2.7m.

01/05/2018-Killarney MD
Question: What is the update on Kilcummin Sewerage Scheme?
Reply: Kerry County Council’s decision to grant Planning Permission for the proposed Scheme was upheld by An Bord Pleanála in October 2017. There are some Wayleave issues outstanding. Irish Water is currently in communication with the landowners. Irish Water has replied to a recent Dáil Question that it plans to go to tender in 2018 and construction in 2019 for the proposed Scheme, the cost of which is provisionally estimated at €2.7m.

09/01/2019-Killarney MD
Question: Please provide an update on the Kilcummin Sewer.
Reply: Irish Water intends to invite tenders for the Kilcummin Sewerage Scheme early in 2019 with a view to starting construction later in 2019. Negotiations are continuing with a small number of landowners and while considerable progress has recently been made, all the necessary agreements have not yet been concluded.

06/03/2019-Killarney MD
Question: What is the update with the sewer in Kilcummin?
Reply: Irish Water is continuing to advance the design and investigative work necessary to put the proposed Kilcummin Sewerage Scheme out to Tender. Site investigation in respect of the project has been ongoing in the locality over the last two months. Negotiations surrounding land acquisition are also ongoing and when these are completed Irish Water will procure the project with a view to starting construction in early 2020. It is also proposed to arrange a public information briefing on the scheme in the Kilcummin area within the next two months, to update residents on the project and to gauge the level of interest among the community in connecting to the scheme, when complete. Information on the connection process and associated costs will also be available at the briefing.