Tourism operators in West Clare have expressed concern about Irish Water’s planned timetable to complete much-needed works on a pumping station at Kilkee.
The company says the works will be finished in May, before the bathing season, but locals say that’s too late.
In December last, large amounts of rainwater and a failure of an operational safety device led to waste water being pumped into the sea at Kilkee.
This resulted in a “Do Not Swim” notice issued by Clare county Council which is still in place.
Now, Irish Water are carrying out repair and remedial works, and say it will be finished by mid-May.
In their view, this will minimise the impact on local tourism business but mid-May is seen as too late by many in and around the tourist hotspot, with the new Chairman of Loop Head Tourism Ian Glendinning among those expressing concerns.
