Uisce Éireann fined €4,000 for West Cork waste water licence breaches   

Uisce Éireann has been prosecuted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and fined €4,000 in the district court for breaches of their wastewater licence at Shannonvale Park in West Cork.

The Clonakilty Clean Water Committee, which has been highlighting that its park has been rendered unusable for 28 years due to sewage issues, welcomed the verdict, describing it as “great news for our community”.

An Uisce Éireann spokesperson told The Echo: “Uisce Éireann notes that a case was heard before the district court earlier this week in relation to two wastewater incidents that occurred at Shannonvale in September 2024.

“Uisce Éireann entered guilty pleas under the Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations 2007 (as amended) and acknowledges the seriousness of the incidents. Uisce Éireann is committed to protecting the environment.

“We regret any concern caused locally.

“Uisce Éireann is progressing a strategic assessment to identify the best long-term solution for Shannonvale. This involves a full assessment of all feasible options, having regard to available resources, funding, and prioritisation.”

Major step forward

Speaking to The Echo, a spokesperson for the Clonakilty Clean Water Committee said: “This result is a major step forward in holding Uisce Éireann to account. It recognises the damage caused not only to Shannonvale Park, once the pride of our village, but also to the River Argideen, an important local waterway.

“We want to acknowledge the EPA for pursuing this prosecution and ensuring accountability. This outcome is a big win for the people of Shannonvale and the wider Clonakilty area.”

Evie Nevin, a Labour Party representative for West Cork, said: “Shannonvale’s story will hopefully inspire others to stand up and demand safe, clean drinking water and healthy green spaces for their communities.

“This judgment is a major step forward, but we must keep the pressure on to ensure the necessary investment is made to fully rectify the situation.”

Active threats

Cork South West Independent Ireland TD Michael Collins said: “What residents have witnessed with respect to Shannonvale has been a chronic and systemic lack of responsiveness that was generating active threats to public health.”

The minister for nature, heritage, and biodiversity, Fianna Fail’s Christopher O’Sullivan, added: “It is unacceptable that residents have been waiting 28 years for action to resolve waste water treatment issues and reopen their community park.”

Commitment

He said he has been in regular contact with Uisce Éireann on the project, and that its most recent update includes a commitment to delivering a solution to address the Shannonvale wastewater treatment issue.

This will involve the requirement to purchase land, establish wayleaves, apply for planning permission, and complete the required wastewater discharge authorisation reviews. Funding has been allocated to develop the detailed designs for this project and progress through the statutory consenting processes.