Wicklow Fine Gael TD, Andrew Doyle, has welcomed the approval given by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to give the go-ahead to the local authority to award a €2.87 million contract for water conservation in Wicklow. Contract 1 of the Wicklow Water Conservation Stage 3 Works Network Rehabilitation Project is to be awarded under the Water Services and Investment Programme 2010 – 2013.
Deputy Doyle said, “I’m delighted that Minister Hogan has approved this essential contract for County Wicklow. Water leakage throughout the county and the water network has long been identified as a real problem. To resolve this, a coordinated approach has been taken by the stakeholders to ensure this issue is tackled effectively.”
“This contract that has been approved will benefit the Arklow, Baltinglass, Dunlavin, Laragh, Annamoe, Stratford and Knockanarrigan areas. Within these areas, nearly 26 kilometres of pipes on the water network are to be replaced thanks to this investment. The level of unaccountable water leakage within the system is continually being tackled with this project, in order to see more sustainable levels of water go through the distribution network.”
“I am confident that this investment and funding from central government will result in an improvement of the quality of the water supply in County Wicklow, alongside improving the reliability of the service provided. The Water Services Investment Programme, which comes to an end later this year, has provided huge dividends to County Wicklow, with a number of multimillion euro contracts being provided through Wicklow County Council for large capital projects, creating jobs and improving local services.”
“I will continue to work with the Minister to ensure that Wicklow continues to receive additional funding to benefit and maintain capital and essential water infrastructure in the county”, concluded Deputy Doyle.