€410,100 is being provided for group rural water schemes in Clare under this year’s Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme.
This year’s national allocation is €14,870,280 and is an increase of almost 30 percent on the 2015 equivalent. Clare County Council will be provided with the funds and will given the responsibility of administering the programme. 119 scheme and projects will benefit as a result with 12,500 households assisted under the programme.
The Department of Planning, Housing, Community and Local Government was assisted by an Expert Panel convened to examine proposals and make recommendations for funding on a number of elements of the programme.
Welcoming the announcement Fine Gael TD Joe Carey said “The Clare allocation is aimed primarily towards the improvement of water quality in existing group water schemes in the county, the takeover of some schemes by Irish Water where requested and upgrading and water conservation works in group water scheme distribution networks.
“Funding is also provided towards new group water and sewerage schemes in Clare. These new schemes enable rural households, to have a supply of good quality piped water for the first time. This Government is working to ensure that the economic recovery reaches all parts of the country and the benefits are felt inside every doorstep and in every community. The Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme and the €410,100 funding announced for Clare is an important step in this process for rural areas,” Carey stated.
Mayo and Galway received the biggest allocations with €5,678,800 and €2,617,040 respectively.