Calls have been made for the inclusion of Carrigaholt in a pilot project which would address the provision of wastewater services for rural areas.
Clare TD Pat Breen has raised the issue in the Dáil after a feasibility study ruled out the proposed Carrigaholt Group Sewerage Scheme due to excessive costs.
The significant cost involved in the delivery of waste water treatment in some rural areas has meant that many fall outside the funding critera of the current group sewerage scheme programmes.
Such is the case in Carrigaholt, where the local community has been campaigning for a number of years for the development of a sewerage scheme.
The Proposed Carrigaholt Group Sewerage Scheme has been ruled out after a feasibility study carried out by Clare County Council, estimated the cost at 1.233 million euro.
As a result, the Environment Department informed the council that the proposed scheme in the west Clare village doesn't meet with the terms and conditions of the group sewerage grant scheme.
Clare TD Pat Breen says significant efforts have been made to find a solution to the problem but it has now reached an impass.
A working group involving key stakeholders in the rural water sector has recently been established to develop a new approach towards funding group water and sewerage schemes from next year.
The group meeting today to discuss the new rural water multi-annual funding framework for 2016 to 2018, following which the Environment Minister Alan Kelly will announce details of the new programme over the coming weeks.
Speaking in the Dáil, Minister of State at the Environment Department, Paudie Coffee says this may provide a solution for Carrigaholt.
