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Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Multi-Million euro investment to improve water quality in Mayo
The programme aims to improve water infrastructure across rural Group Water Schemes (GWS). 20 GWS across Mayo will benefit from the funding, which is the largest Government investment to date for water services in the county. The funding will support a range of projects in Mayo, including source protection measures, water treatment upgrades, leakage reduction and prevention, new community water connections, as well as the formal taking-in-charge of four Group Water Schemes and Group Sewerage Schemes in Mayo. €2.89m was granted to Callow Lake GWS for water conservation and leakage reduction. Cllr Neil Cruise from Foxford spoke to the Irish Independent and welcomed the funding. He mentioned there is a lot of pipe work that needs to be replaced due to ongoing leakage issues, 'This news is wonderful for the greater east Mayo area, this is funding that is hugely required. It is very welcomed news to help solve the ongoing issues, make things better for the environment, and protect the water.' Cllr Cruise made a motion at the last Mayo County Council meeting to develop a LIFE project in the Pontoon area, to help preserve water quality in Lough Conn and Lough Cullin, similar to the ongoing LIFE project in Lough Carra. Lough Carra GWS also received €1.2m to improve water efficiency and reduce losses. Cllr Donna Sheridan from Castlebar said that today's announcement is great news for communities in the Castlebar Municipal District. 'It is so important that we protect our water sources and ensure the highest standards in our water treatment. We must ensure that communities across Castlebar Municipal District have the benefit of high water infrastructure and water services, 'This funding, and the completion of these projects, will allow GWS to continue to improve the quality, quantity, and reliability of the water services across Mayo.' Over €7.5m has been allocated to support the taking-in-charge of dozens of group water and sewage schemes across the county, to help ensure long-term sustainability and public oversight. Minister of State, Alan Dillion TD, welcomed the significant investment saying: 'This vital funding will support the development and maintenance of essential water and sanitation services, ensuring that rural households have access to clean, safe, and reliable drinking water, ADVERTISEMENT 'The Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme is not only about improving quality of life, it also supports economic activities such as agriculture, livestock farming, and tourism, all of which depend on reliable water resources, 'This is one of the most significant investments in rural water infrastructure ever seen in Mayo. It will directly benefit thousands of households, improve water quality, reduce leakage, and ensure that rural communities have access to safe, reliable, and sustainable water services.' This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Irish Independent
19-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Sustainable development plan for Mayo's Pontoon with ‘massive tourism potential'
Located between Lough Conn and Lough Cullin in North East Mayo, Pontoon used to be a busy spot. The area had two popular hotels, Healy's and Pontoon Bridge. Healy's Hotel suffered a fire and the building went derelict. In 2019 planning permission was granted to develop the building into a hotel, restaurant and bar, since the Covid pandemic work hasn't resumed on the site. Pontoon Bridge Hotel was built in the 1940s and extended in 2006. It was sold in 2017 and didn't reopen. Foxford-based councillor Neil Cruise, raised a motion at the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council and laid out his plan for the Pontoon area to bring it back to life. The area includes Drummin Woods, Lough Conn and Lough Cullin. Cllr Cruise told the meeting there is a distinct opportunity at the minute and referred to the Pontoon area as a 'sleeping giant' that has 'massive tourism potential'. Cllr Cruise described a 'new beginning' with forest company Coillte. The semi-state company is responsible for 44,000 hectares of forest lands around Ireland. Cllr Cruise said they are 'very interested in working with us'. He called for interest groups to come together to help: 'I feel it is time that we can all come together, Coillte, Parks and Wildlife, local development groups, farming and fishing interests, walking groups and local tourism promoters. 'We have the development of the Foxford to Pontoon greenway, the Knockmore to Pontoon trail, and Pontoon to Castlebar greenway as far as Healy's Hotel. We have the refurbishment of the six-arch bridge in Cuing Mór, we have the development of forest walks, the beaches and shores of Lough Cullin, of Pontoon Bay, Schoolhouse Bay, Healy's Bay, and Pontoon Bridge lake access'. Development groups in the area were said to be 'itching to go' but need help to pull everything together. Cllr Cruise is proposing that the council develop a LIFE project for the Pontoon lakes, similar to the Lough Carra LIFE project in Castlebar. Cllr Alma Gallagher seconded the motion, describing Pontoon's unused natural resources as a 'missed opportunity'. Cllr Gallagher raised the issue of a 'county imbalance' saying resources are being invested in the same areas, mainly Westport, Ballina and Castlebar. The Ballyhaunis-based councillor pointed out that the majority of Mayo's population live outside of those towns and said there needs to be substantial policy change because 'East Mayo is being left behind'. The motion was also supported by a further eight councillors including Cllr Al McDonnell. He congratulated Cllr Cruise on his motion and offered a helping hand. 'There is a threat to water quality in every fresh water course in Ireland. We got together some years ago in an effort to save Lough Carra. An application was made to the LIFE project in Europe, after tremendous negotiation and lobbying to Europe we succeeded in getting a grant for €5 million over five years. 'If you want any assistance with that, or if your group wants to meet us, I can put you on the mailing list and you're very welcome to come to one of our meetings and we'll introduce you to some of the people who were successful in relation to our application.' This article was funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
