A Carlow councillor has welcomed confirmation that a planning application for the upgrade of the Ballinabranna Wastewater Treatment Plant is expected soon.
Daniel Pender says the increase will increase capacity supporting expanded wastewater services and enabling further housing development in the area.
Cllr. Pender has consistently campaigned for the upgrade and has repeatedly raised the issue with Government Ministers and Irish Water following earlier commitments that the project would be progressed.
“I have raised this issue time and again with Ministers and with Irish Water because the people of Ballinabranna were promised that this project would move forward. Wastewater capacity has been a major barrier to housing development, and I was determined that this community would not be left waiting indefinitely.”
“The confirmation that a planning application is now expected in Q2 2026 is welcome. However, it is important that this timeline is adhered to and that there are no further unnecessary delays.”
Cllr. Pender noted that the increase represents a substantial boost in capacity, though the exact number of new homes that can be facilitated will depend on the scale and nature of future developments and the technical assessments carried out as part of the connection process.
“Infrastructure must keep pace with demand. If we are serious about delivering homes for families and young people, then essential services like wastewater treatment must be delivered first. I will continue to monitor this closely to ensure Ballinabranna gets the infrastructure it has long been promised.”
