Minister Hogan gives go ahead for funding of €3.5 million for North Tipperary County Council’s revised Stage 3 Watermain Rehabilitation Proposals.

Mr. Phil Hogan, T.D. Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, today (13/02/2013) announced that he has given approval to North Tipperary County Council’s revised Stage 3 Watermain Rehabilitation Proposals. The contracts are outlined.

• the commitment to the necessary funding to North Tipperary’s County Council’s most economically advantageous tender of €1.5 million, including VAT, for Water Conservation Works in Thurles Town

• approval to the Council’s design proposals and the commitment to the necessary capital funding for the Council’s most economically advantageous tender of 0.57 million for a Direct Labour Contract to carry out works to replace watermains in the Dromineer, Kilkeary and Nenagh South areas.

• approval to the Council’s design proposals for a Watermain Rehabilitation Contract to replace 3,377 metres of watermain at 18 different locations in the North Tipperary area at a total estimated cost of €1.073 million.

‘’North Tipperary County Council’s mains replacement 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.

The Minister added, “I know how important this scheme is to the North Tipperary area and I would like to see these contracts progressing through to construction with the minimum of delay.  My Department will be asking North Tipperary County Council to advance these contracts to construction as quickly as possible’’.