Two Midlands Waste Water Plants To Benefit From €20m Fund

Monday, 4 April 2022 17:35

They're among 12 facilities that have been selected.

Two midlands waste water treatment plants are among 12 facilities that will benefit from a €20 million fund.

Facilities in Milltownpass in Westmeath and Cloneygowan in Offaly will receive funding to upgrade the local sewerage system and allow for further development in the area.

The plant upgrades will also result in improvements to water quality in local rivers and are due to be complete by 2025.

Commenting on the news, Junior Housing Minister and Longford-Westmeath Fine Gael TD, Peter Burke;

“This is really positive investment which will mean there will an improvement in the water quality in our local rivers and an upgrade the local sewerage system which will facilitate further development in the area. We have seen the Government is committed to investing in rural Ireland and in our towns and villages, and this significant investment is positive news for the area”.

“The issue of waste water has been raised with me previously by Cllr Emily Wallace on behalf of residents of Milltownpass and I am glad to see action being taken now by Irish Water to protect water quality and future-proof the network to allow for further rural development and more houses and businesses”.

The project will be funded by the European Union under Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

Once complete, the newly upgraded plants will provide additional treatment capacity to support housing and growth, improve water quality in rivers and safeguard water supplies.

Ted O’Reilly, Asset Planning Lead with Irish Water said;

"We are delighted to announce upgrades to 12 wastewater treatment plants across the country today under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Once upgraded, these plants will help support the recovery of rural areas from the economic impacts of the pandemic. The plant upgrades will result in improvements to water quality in local rivers and support social and economic growth within these areas.

“Public expenditure in wastewater infrastructure will have positive impacts on the economy, supporting growth and helping to facilitate social and affordable housing. Investment in public projects will provide the infrastructure needed to help with economic recovery."