Five Offaly group water schemes share over €76,000 in funding

Offaly Local Development Company is providing some €76,500 in funding to five group water schemes across the county in order to facilitate "key improvement works" including the installation of solar panels.

The company said the funding was being distributed after a recent targeted application process aimed at "strengthening rural water infrastructure and promoting sustainability".

The five schemes which secured a share of the funding are: Clareen Group Water Scheme; Killeigh, Cloneygowan and Killurine and Meelaghans Water Scheme CLG ; Tubber Water CLG; Eglish Rath & Dromcullen Group Water Scheme CLG; and Ballinagar Group Water Scheme.

Offaly Local Development Company (OLDC) said this investment would help reduce energy costs, improve operational efficiency and enhance the long-term sustainability of group water schemes serving rural communities across the county.

The schemes will now "move forward to the next stage of project development and implementation, with the solar panel installations expected to contribute to reduced running costs and increased resilience" it added.

OLDC said it worked closely with local groups throughout the application process, providing advice and support to ensure "strong and well-prepared" applications.

Funded under the Leader Rural Development Programme, 2023-2027, the targeted call focused on addressing specific challenges faced by group water schemes, with an emphasis on climate action measures and energy efficiency.

Speaking about the announcement, Roisin Lennon, CEO, Offaly Local Development Company said this funding "represents an important step in supporting community-led solutions".

She added that "investing in renewable energy, such as solar power, will help future-proof group water schemes while delivering environmental and economic benefits" for local communities.