(1888PressRelease)
September 18, 2007 - Speaking after the launch of the Water Services Investment Programme 2007–2009, Minister Killeen said, "The Programme maintains the momentum to improve water and sewerage services in the county and affirms the continuing availability of substantial funding from my Department to do the job."
The Minister explained, "The investment package of EUR236m for Clare presents an ideal opportunity to strengthen the local infrastructure so as to facilitate further economic development in Clare and to protect our natural resources."
The Water Services Investment Programme 2007–09 allocates funding for some 25 water and sewerage schemes in Clare. The EUR236m package includes funding for most of the County's main towns, including Ennis, which will be getting both new water and wastewater treatment plant, and many smaller towns and villages.
In addition to the water schemes already underway in Ennis, Ballyvaughan and Newmarket-and-Fergus, the Programme includes 10 other water and sewerage schemes to commence construction in 2008 and schemes under the Rural Towns and Villages Initiative. The Programme also features schemes to provide sites for housing under the Serviced Land Initiative at Clarecastle, Clonlara, Inagh and Tulla.
Schemes newly approved to advance through planning include the Killaloe Sewerage Scheme, the North Clare (Eastern Area) Water Scheme and the Castle Lake Water Supply Scheme.
Schemes cleared to start in 2008 include sewerage scheme improvements at Ballyvaughan, Corofin, Doolin, Carrigaholt, Labasheeda, Cooraclare, Ennistymon, Liscannor, Miltown Malbay, Spanish Point, Kilkee, Kilrush, O'Callaghan Mills, Bodyke, O'Brien's Bridge, Flagmount, Cratloe, Quilty, Scariff, Feakle and Shannon. The Minister said that Clare County Council had authority to get the Feakle, Quilty and Scariff schemes underway before the end of this year if the contractors were ready to go on site.
Major improvements are also planned for the water supply schemes serving parts of the West and North of the County with the West Clare scheme due to start within the next few months. There is to be a major upgrade of the Castlelake Water scheme, which currently serves Shannon, and for which pipes are being laid to bring a connection to Ennis.
According to Minister Killeen, "This planned investment of EUR236 million represents an ambitious programme of works for Clare and reflects the determination of the Government and Clare County Council to ensure that the necessary water services infrastructure will be in place to support continuing economic growth in the county in the years ahead."
The Minister also welcomed the more streamlined project approval system now in place to speed individual schemes. Once a local authority receives preliminary sanction from the Department schemes costing up to EUR5 million can now proceed to construction without any further clearance from the Department.
"The procedures will benefit many of the approved schemes in Clare, which will significantly reduce delays and enable the local authority to press ahead with the provision of much needed infrastructure", added the Minister.
"Under the new Programme a very large number of towns and villages in County Clare are directly benefiting from the Government's commitment to fund necessary infrastructure to allow the County to project itself as a good location to invest, to create jobs and to live, work and holiday", concluded Minister Killeen
Notes to Editor:
- Full details of the Clare component of the Water Services Investment Programme 2007 – 2009 are available on request.
- Tony Killeen T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Environment Heritage and Local Government and Communication Energy and Natural Resources with special responsibility for Environment and Energy, is available for interview and further comment on 0035387-2525304. Alternatively please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 00353868534900 or media ( @ ) dunphypr dot com
- High resolution image of Minister Killeen available on request
Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
Clonboula,
Connolly,
Ennis,
County Clare
IRELAND
www.dunphypr.com
media ( @ ) dunphypr dot com
00353-868534900 (Mobile)
00353-656839692 (Fax)
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