The proposed wastewater treatment plant in Bennettsbridge, Co. Kilkenny will not be completed until "post 2029", according to Fianna Fáil councillor for Callan-Thomastown, Deirdre Cullen.

Cullen told Agriland that Kilkenny County Council's director of services gave a briefing on the plant at a recent council meeting.

The Bennettsbridge wastewater treatment plant received funding under the Small Towns and Villages Growth programme in 2021.

According to Úisce Éireann, the project is currently at stage two of a four stage process.

"It was at lest three years ago that we got the announcement that there was circa €4 million to upgrade the plant in Bennettsbridge, but no works have taken place," Cullen said.

"The issue is, as if that’s not bad enough, no other works in terms of wastewater can go ahead until Bennettsbridge is finished in its entirety.

"We have other areas on the list. It is important that we take hold of the issue of building new housing, and in essence we have our hands tied behind our backs because no new development can take place until Bennettsbridge is finished first," she also added.

Cullen said that it is "crucial" that the Bennettsbridge project is completed as soon as possible.

"At my municipal district meeting, I proposed that we write to Úisce Eireann and to the Minister for Housing, James Browne, to emphasise how critical and crucial it is that Bennettsbridge begins and is completed a lot sooner than post 2029," she said.

Despite the setback, the councillor has faith in the government to resolve the issue.

"We have a new minister for housing, I have great faith in James Browne. There was an announcement of increased funding to Úisce Éireann, which is essential," she said.

"With increased funding to Úisce Éireann, I would be hopeful that the timeline would become smaller," she concluded.

Agriland contacted Úisce Éireann for comment but did not receive a response.