Corporation demands details over sewage plant decision

GALWAY Corporation is demanding fuller details from the Minister for the Environment, Mr Howlin, on the basis for his decision to fund an underground sewage treatment plant at Mutton Island, before deciding if they will approve it.

City councillors, some of them furious about the way the Minister's decision was made and announced, say it is impossible to make a decision following the change of heart by the Department of the Environment on the plant's design without seeing fuller details.

In particular, they want facts and figures about start up and operating costs. A £23 million plant had been due to be built above ground on the island and to be linked to the mainland by a 900 metre causeway.

The city councillors are to meet again within a month, pending clarification from the Minister, when they intend to make a decision on whether to approve the underground option.

Councillors were due to hear a report from Corporation officials on the proposal for an underground plant put forward by the Belgian company, Seghers Engineering. But this was not presented to their meeting in view of Mr Howlin's announcement last week.

Mr Howlin said he was abandoning a decision made last January to go against the European Commission's environmental misgivings and to fund the existing plan for an above ground plant.

He now favoured the underground option without a cause way, which would involve more extensive sewage treatment, and servicing the plant by ferry despite the extra costs involved. This was possible because of advances in technology.

A majority of councillors have stuck repeatedly with the above ground option with a causeway despite a court action by Save Galway Bay group which seeks to stop it.

In response to Mr Howlin's latest move they have sought the Corporation's report on the Seghers option. They also wish to see the report which led the Minister to change his mind on design options it is understood that the former document highlights reservations about the underground option.

While councillors did not voice objections to the Minister's plans, they stressed that they could not evaluate them until given fuller information. They also criticised the manner of the announcement.

Mr Michael Leahy (FF) said the Minister "has spat in our eye. A decision had been taken elsewhere and been thrown at the Corporation to rubber stamp.

"If we don't agree to this, we will be accused of failing in our duty, delaying progress and not saving Galway Bay. All details must be made available. Secret deals must be brought out into the open and a public debate must take place. A solution is still a long way off."

A perfectly feasible plan including a causeway had been agreed by the Corporation, Mr Micheal O hUiginn (FF) said, but the Minister had dropped it at the stroke of a pen. "He has discredited this council by his action. The decision was political."