A new 2.5km sewer pipeline has been constructed from Barndarrig to Redcross.

A new 2.5km sewer pipeline has been constructed from Barndarrig to Redcross.

A Wexford town resident is being asked to pay up to €10,000 to repair a collapsed sewage pipe outside his home after Uisce Éireann stated it does not take responsibility for issues of this nature.

Outlining the extent of the problem, Councillor Jim Codd said the resident in question had already forked out a considerable amount of money to remove raw sewage from his home.

“The sewage pipes have collapsed in the middle of the road outside his house,” said the councillor at the December meeting of Wexford County Council (WCC).

“Uisce Éireann (UE) is not involving itself in fixing the pipe, and so far WCC is not involving itself either. This man is paying on a weekly basis to have the sewage taken out (of the house) and has been advised by WCC to get a road closure license and employ someone to carry out the repairs. This would cost approximately €10,000.

“A private homeowner cannot surely be held responsible for collapsed pipes in the middle of public roads. This has been going on since last September.”

Given that he represents the Rosslare Municipal District (RMD), it appeared to some that, in raising a Wexford town issue, Cllr Codd was purposely stepping outside his boundaries.

“Will I bring this up at our district meeting, Jim?” asked Cllr Biddy Walsh of the Wexford Borough.

“Well, the man contacted me, but thanks very much, maybe you would,” replied Cllr Codd. “Maybe you’ll solve it for him. I’m not here to score political points, I’m here to solve problems.”

Helping to solve those problems, director of roads Eamonn Hore said UE had clearly defined regulations when it came to carrying out repairs.

“If it’s a drinking water pipe UE will take responsibility for it, but if it’s a sewage pipe they seemingly don’t; if it’s a private sewer coming from a single house they say they’re not responsible.. We intend to write to them and ask if they will deal with this anomaly.”

As a practising solicitor, Cllr Lisa McDonald said this loophole had “serious legal implications” for prospective homeowners.

“It needs to be dealt with by the law society and the government,” she said.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.