Almost €4.5 million is to be invested in rural water services in Galway under a new Government programme to improve water quality, infrastructure, and conservation in rural areas.
The funding, which is part of a €54 million investment in rural water services across the State, will benefit "thousands of households", according to Fine Gael Galway West TD Hildegarde Naughton.
Local authorities and group schemes are being invited to apply for funding under the new multi-annual capital investment programme for water services in rural areas earlier this year.
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Following an assessment process, 621 projects in 25 counties were approved for investment of more than €54.3 million across seven categories including source protection, public health compliance, enhancement of existing schemes, and new schemes, as well as innovation and research.
Projects in Galway will receive almost €1.8 million to upgrade existing infrastructure and make it more efficient, while nearly €1.2 million has been allocated to upgrade treatment facilities. Almost €900,000 has been approved to bring existing group water schemes under the remit of Irish Water, while €215,600 will be used for the establishment of new group water schemes in rural areas.
“Good quality water services are critically important to people’s health, quality of life, and rural economies," said Dep Naughton. "It’s the stated aim of this Government to ensure people in rural communities can expect the same quality of water services as those in urban areas."
