Galway City Council has denied the €70 million Mutton Island sewage treatment plant is almost out of date and says it is quite happy it will meet the city's needs for the next few years.
The city's acting manager, Mr Joe O'Neill, was commenting on a report by engineering consultants for the council that recommended the possible construction of an additional sewage treatment plant for the populations of Oranmore/Athenry.
The engineers had been asked to examine options for Galway's main drainage scheme, he said. There was ample scope for expanding Mutton Island, he added, and there was no question of having to pump raw sewage into the bay because of lack of capacity.
Green Party councillor Mr Niall Ó Brolcháin has expressed concern at the engineers' report and noted the Mutton Island plant was originally earmarked to cope with Galway's needs until 2017.
