Planning permissions being refused in North Cork due to lack of water treatment upgrade 

Lack of housing in five areas as developers the 'death knell' for rural Ireland as school pupil numbers falling as a result, councillors told

Fianna Fáil councillor Deirdre O’Brien said she knew of developers whose planning permissions had expired in Mitchelstown because of the delays in getting a new treatment plant and more recent applications have been refused because of the situation.

Developers are being refused planning permission in the middle of a housing crisis in a town and four villages in North Cork because Uisce Éireann is not tackling the urgent need to upgrade wastewater treatment systems which are at capacity.

Councillors representing the North Cork region (Northern Division) said they were concerned school pupil numbers were beginning to fall in the five areas and that developers who had signalled they want to build there are being refused because the current systems are at capacity.