€47.1m funding boost to improve rural water services
A funding boost totalling €47.1 million has been earmarked for 256 capital projects across the country to "improve the quality, quantity and reliability" of water services in rural areas.
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien today (November, 6) confirmed that the projects have been identified under a new cycle of the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme, which will run to 2026.
Local authorities had been asked to work with group water schemes and their representative body, the National Federation of Group Water Schemes, earlier this year to submit applications for funding for individual capital projects.
According to Minister O’Brien having access to "reliable and safe drinking water is critically important to continue to build resilient and sustainable rural communities and economies".
"The funding allocated today is an example of my departments’ ongoing investment and commitment to the future social, environmental and economic development of rural Ireland.
"I am very conscious of the need to protect our water sources and ensure the highest standards in water treatment," the minister added.
He believes that the investment to improve water services "will continue to support and encourage people to live and work locally in rural Ireland”.
The 256 projects secured funding under five key measures including:
- Measure A1 - source protection, approval was given to 77 applications requiring funding of €2.3 million;
- Measure A2 – water quality compliance, approval was given to 92 applications requiring funding of €5.5 million;
- Measure A3 – amalgamation or rationalisation, funding of €4 million is approved for 25 applications;
- Measure A6 - taking-in-charge of group water schemes by by Uisce Éireann, 60 applications requiring funding of €34.5 million are being approved;
- Measure A7 –community water connections, funding of almost €800,000 is being approved to expand the coverage of water supplies from the public (Uisce Éireann) network.
One of the biggest individual projects that has been given the green light in the latest cycle of the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme is in Co. Carlow for the Ballyellen GWS scheme under measure A6 which will receive €864,473.
