Minister hails €48m upgrade for water services

A €48m upgrade will help the Dublin area’s water services cope with the massive increase in demand in the region, Minister for the Environment Dick Roche said today.

Mr Roche said the multi-million euro package for Dublin’s main drinking water source would ensure the area would continue to have a top quality water supply.

The upgrade for the City Council’s Water Treatment Plant at Ballymore Eustace has been allocated under the Department of Environment’s Water Services Investment Programme 2004-2006.

The expansion scheme will include a new 56,500 cubic metre reservoir, a laboratory and a number of other infrastructure developments, the minister said.

“The expansion of the Ballymore Eustace Plant will increase current drinking water output from 274 megalitres per day to a daily maximum of 318 megalitres.

“The expansion of the Ballymore Eustace Plant will ensure there are sufficient reserves to guarantee a quality service to all consumers and to give local authorities in the region much greater flexibility to respond to new development needs,” Mr Roche said.

A number of other water projects around the country have also been approved, the Department of the Environment said.

Kerry County Council has been permitted to place contracts for the construction of the Caherciveen Water Supply Scheme.

Galway County Council has also received approval to progress two schemes, the €4.5m Dunmore and Kilkerrin Sewerage Schemes and the extension of the €27.9m Tuam Regional Water Supply Scheme to Headford.

And Limerick City Council has been given the go-ahead to invite tenders for the Monaleen Road to Southern Ring Road section of the Limerick Southern Ring Water Main, which has an estimated cost of €2.23m.