Published: Friday, 27th February, 2009 9:00am

Government allocates €2.5m for Offaly rural water schemes

The quality of drinking water will improve, while the possibility of environmental pollution will be lessened, as Government funding of €2.5 million has been allocated for various water and sewerage schemes this year.

The funding will go towards measures to improve water quality in group schemes with private sources, such as rivers and lakes, will create new group water schemes and extend existing schemes, while also providing for essential network upgrading.

A total of €1.2 million will be spent on upgrading the existing 12 group water schemes, namely: Ballyboy, Ballykillen, Boher/Leamonaghon, Bracknagh, Cadamstown, Clareen, Clonaderg/Ballyduff, Killeigh, Park, Rath, Mountlucas and Tubber.

A total of €360,000 will be spent on two new group water schemes in Ballycommon and Money and three Group Sewerage Schemes at Ballydaly, Kincora and Military Road.

Under the Small Public Water and Sewerage Schemes category, funding of €675,000 has been approved in respect of 13 Water Schemes at Banagher WSS, St Brochan"s Park, Edenderry Rhode WSS, Ferbane RWSS, Geashil WSS, Kinnity Road, Kinnity WSS, Kilcormac, Moneygall/Dunkerrin WSS, Mountbolus WSS, Rahan WSS, Shandra Lane Link and Water Quality Protection Measures.

And six sewerage schemes in Ballinagar, Bracknagh, Cloneygowan, Geashill, Killeigh and Portarlington will also be worked on.

Finally, to facilitate the takeover of certain groups by Offaly County Council, funding of €220,000 has been approved in respect of six group water schemes (Ballingar, Ballycosney, Ballydaly Wood, Cordarragh, Durrow/Ballybought and Leamore/Leabeg. And €80,000 has been approved in respect of group water schemes requiring Chlorine Monitors and Alarms to safeguard the supplies against sporadic non-compliance.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen welcomed the allocation under the 2009 Rural Water Programme by Minister Michael Kitt.

'This allocation, which is an increase of almost €300,000 over the original 2008 allocation, is made against a difficult economic backdrop and clearly shows that this Government is delivering on its promise to continue investing in our infrastructure,' said the Taoiseach.

Chairman of Offaly County Council, Councillor Barry Cowen also welcomed the funding.

'The allocation for small public water and sewerage schemes will allow local authorities to carry out works that will ensure compliance with drinking water quality standards and avoid pollution threats. It will also allow authorities to connect more houses to public water and sewerage networks,' he said.