Mountbellew Wastewater Treatment Scheme needs to progress as a matter of urgency to meet the demand created by the announcement of the Veterinary College at ATU Mountbellew.

Following the announcement that Mountbellew ATU Campus has been selected to run a Veterinary College, there will be increased demand for student accommodation and the wastewater infrastructure needs to be in place to meet this positive development.

The Veterinary course is expected to commence in September 2025 and each year there will be an intake of students with up to 200 students on campus over a four-year programme. This is a positive development, and it will lead to further courses being developed on the campus, which is good for the economy of Mountbellew and the catchment area.

“Uisce Eireann have confirmed that Mountbellew Wastewater Treatment plant upgrade is currently at Stage 3 – Final Business Case as per the Public Spending Code”.

It is expected that construction of the plant will commence construction in early 2026 but this timeline needs to be reviewed to ensure an earlier delivery date.

The proposed scheme consists of the provision of a new Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) at a new greenfield site near the Mountbellew Mart, serving a design PE of 1,800, a new pumping station and storm water tank at the existing WWTP site, a rising main and a gravity discharge pipeline back to the existing site discharging to the river.

Uisce Eireann further confirmed that Planning for the Phase 1 works was confirmed by ABP in 2022. The Phase 1 works of the proposed WWTP are designed to comply with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD).

“It is imperative for the future growth of Mountbellew that this project is delivered in the shortest time possible. There is demand for housing and the Agricultural College is in expansion mode and infrastructure is required as a matter of urgency.

I will continue to keep pressure on Uisce Eireann to ensure there are no further unnecessary delays”.