Mr. Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, today (13/02/2013) approved the commitment of the necessary capital funding to enable Limerick County Council accept the tender of €0.829 million from Jimmy O’Regan Plant Hire to carry out extensive watermain rehabilitation works under the National Water Conservation Programme. In addition, the Minister also approved the commitment of the necessary funding to enable the Council advance a further three contracts under the National Water Conservation Programme, with a combined value of €0.43 million by way of Direct Labour.
The Council intends to carry out work to replace watermains at a number of locations in the County, including Bruff, Hospital, Oola, Murroe,Croom and Abbeyfeale. These works will resolve issues of water leakage and poor response to repair and enable the watermain sections to meet service level requirements in those areas. In addition, these works also involve the replacement of connections lead watermains laid at the rear of houses at Doon, Cappamore, Hospital and Bruff.
“Limerick County Council’s proposals reflect the importance of water conservation as a key objective under my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 to reduce water loss in the public supply networks,” the Minister said. “It is difficult to justify major capital expenditure on new water supply infrastructure unless we also tackle high unaccounted for water levels in the existing supply systems. That is why the funding for water conservation has been substantially increased under the 2010 – 2013 Programme.
“My approval of the necessary funding today allows Limerick County Council complete the contract formalities with the successful tenderer so that work can start as soon as possible on this contract and also on the three Direct Labour contracts,” the Minister concluded.
