Water services and sewerage infrastructure throughout the State will get a €5 billion investment over the next two years, Minister for the Environment Dick Roche announced today.
The Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 will include 193 schemes, construction on which will begin next year, and a further 191 to start in 2007.
The Minister also announced he is increasing the Exchequer grant available to local authorities for replacing leaky water mains from the present 75 per cent to 90 per cent.
"I expect the increased 90 per cent grant to stimulate the necessary action by local authorities and, to make sure it does, I am asking every authority to submit a detailed timetable for drawing down the €276 million that has been allocated in the programme for water conservation works," Mr Roche said.
The Minister added that that the programme would give his Department and the local authorities "the funding and direction they need to meet . . .
the economic and social development needs of a population that continues to grow at the fastest rate in Europe".
