Almost 40% of sewerage schemes in Kerry are overloaded.
That's according to Colm Mangan, Water Services Engineer at Kerry County Council.
Mr Mangan was speaking at the recent Kenmare Municipal District meeting, following a deputation by the Ballinskelligs Environmental Action Group, who were calling for the area to be prioritised for a new wastewater treatment scheme.
Two members of the Action Group, Máire Uí Leidhin and Emilia Main, pleaded with council management and the elected members for the wastewater plant in Ballinskelligs to be improved.
They said the current wastewater plant was built in 1962, and the amount of visitors, as well as the potential for more development in the area, will put pressure on an already limited scheme.
Several councillors spoke following the deputation, supporting the prioritisation of Ballinskelligs for improvement works.
Engineer with the council, Colm Mangan, replied that he can't see a lot of immediate optimism for Ballinskelligs, and said it would be a lot closer to 2030 than 2020 when something is done there.
He added 17 of the 45 sewerage schemes in Kerry are overloaded, and 32 villages have no facilities at all.
Mr Mangan said Irish Water are chipping away at the problem with facilities in the county, but very slowly.
He said a list of sewerage schemes in Kerry that are in need of upgrades has been compiled for funding applications, but Ballinskelligs is not in the top 10.
Mr Mangan added it's frustrating for everyone, but that is the reality of the situation.
