A GRAPHIC image of raw sewage floating in the tide in Ramelton was shown to members of Donegal County Council this week.

Producing a photograph, Councillor Ian McGarvey said he was 'totally exasperated' by the lack of progress is tackling the serious problem of untreated sewage in the Milford Electoral Area.

"I don't particularly want to showcase my home town in such a manner but something has to be done about this problem. It's getting beyond a joke at this stage and it's about time that the Department made the necessary funding available to deal with this serious problem," Cllr McGarvey said.

"People used to talk about the glar outside Ramelton but it's really s...t. Year in, year out we're faced with this problem but it's not being addressed. It's a waste of time. It's despicable," he blasted.

Cllr Liam Blaney recalled that the provision of a new sewerage scheme for Rathmullan was 'top priority' when he was first elected to the Council in 2004.

"Two years later it still hasn't come on stream and I dread to think about the rest of the towns in the Milford Electoral Area who have yet to get sewerage treatment. It will be 2010 before the Rathmullan scheme is open," he said.

Cllr Pádraig MacLochlainn highlighted similar problems in Downings and Kilmacrennan.

"This slow rate of progress is frustrating for councillors," he said.

Mr Jim Holohan, Director of Service, acknowledged that 'much work' needs to be done in all areas to improve existing wastewater treatment and collection infrastructure.

TIGHTLY CONTROLLED

Members heard that the Water Services Investment Programme which funds larger schemes is tightly controlled by the Department and is 'bureaucratic' and 'cumbersome' in operation.

"Some recent improvements have been introduced by the Department in response to discussions between it and the City and County Managers Association and further improvements are planned. Without such improvements progress on major scheme will continue to be slow," Mr Holohan said.

In reply, Cllr McGarvey said it was little wonder that the members were frustrated.