SEPTEMBER 2007

40m Euro for Inishowen's water projects

Funding of 40m euro has been allocated to progress eight Inishowen water and sewerage schemes over the next two years, it was announced yesterday. A total of just under €350m is being made available to Donegal County Council under the department of the Environment's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 - 2009.

Fianna Fáil T.D. for Donegal North East, Niall Blaney, welcomed the allocation today, pointing out that Donegal has secured the fourth highest level of funding amongst all the counties.

The Inishowen funding is broken down as follows:

• to start this year, Desertegney Water Supply €1.1m.
• to start in 2009, Inishowen Sludge Management €1.1m. Moville/Greencastle Sewerage €9.3m, Bridgend Sewage €648,000, St. Johnston Wastewater Treatment Plant €323,000, Malin Town Sewerage €2.5m.
• schemes to advance through planning, Buncrana sewerage Scheme €4.9, Inishowen Regional Water Supply Scheme €19.

The Investment Programme will be coupled with a series of measures which area aimed at protecting drinking water and natural resources. These include:

• a special package to target supplies at risk form cryptosporidium and e.coli.
• new measures aimed at improving water conservation
• new enforcement powers to prosecute those who fail to protect water resources or cause waster pollution
• plans for enhanced protection of rivers, lakes, and estuaries.

Deputy Blaney said: "We were reminded this year that a precious resource water is by events in Galway. We must continue to invest in preserving and enhancing environmental standards generally, and Minister John Gormely T.D., has today reiterated this Government's commitment to this end with an Investment Programme that is worth €5.8b nationwide."

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