Local Authority News - Vol. 37 . No. 4

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LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS 4

• ISO 50001 for Energy Management gets a boost.

• Government Launches €1.25bn 1.25bn Land Development Agency to build 150,000 New Homes.

• Plastic Recycling Rates must grow by 80% to hit ambitious new EU targets for Ireland.

• Cork County Council Ahead of the Curve.

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CONTENTS Vol 37. No 4.

FEATURES BLUESKY ON THE SURFACE OF IT...

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AN TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR OFFICIALLY OPENS COCKHILL BRIDGE 4 CHURCH ST. ATHLONE REGENERATION AND ENHANCEMENT Published by:

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FIREBIRD LAUNCH NEW ENVIROGREEN LOW 11 NOX BOILER RANGE PLASTIC RECYCLING RATES MUST GROW BY 80% TOHIT AMBITIOUS NEW EU TARGETS FOR IRELAND 12

GILTRON LTD RIVERVIEW LODGE, DUBLIN ROAD, NAVAN, CO. MEATH. Tel: 00353 46 9072841 Email: info@localauthoritynews.ie Website: www.localauthoritynews.ie

Designed & produced by Donnelly Design & Print Ltd. Tel: 046 - 9091891

GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES €1.25BN LAND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY TO BUILD 150,000 NEW HOMES 14 FUTUREPROOF HOME HEATING WITH GRANT

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CORK COUNTY COUNCIL AHEAD OF THE CURVE

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ISO 50001 FOR ENERGY MANAGEMENT GETS A BOOST

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(QMS) WHY ENERGY MANAGEMENT?

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EI LAUNCHES 3000 SERIES – FIRE AND CO ALARMS FOR FULL CIRCLE PROTECTION

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ISSN NO. 1393-0394

LAN is available FREE OF CHARGE to all Local and Central Government Bodies throughout Ireland. Published bi-monthly it is disseminated to Local Authority Managers, Assistant Managers, County Secretaries, Finance Officers, Principal Officers, Department Heads, County Engineers, City Engineers, Chief Quantity Surveyors, Senior Architects, Plant Superintendents, Senior Executive Engineers, Town Clerks, Purchasing Officers, Administrative Officers, Inspectors, Park Superintendents, County Librarians, etc. in all Government Departments, County Councils, Corporations, Office of Public Works, Urban District Councils, State-Sponsored and Development Bodies and Agencies.

MARKET LEADING NORDIC EV CHARGING EXPERTISE IMPLEMENTED LOCALLY BY LARGE CORPORATIONS, MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS (GARO)

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ERP RECYCLES 92 MILLION AA BATTERIES ENOUGH TO CIRCLE THE ISLAND OF IRELAND OR FILL DUBLIN’S SPIRE TWICE 30 €1.4 MILLION ANNOUNCED FOR TIDY TOWNS COMMITTEES AROUND COUNTRY TO MARK 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF EVENT 31

REGULARS IRISH WATER UPDATES

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DEPARTMENT BREIFS

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CLASSIFIEDS

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An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar Officially Opens Cockhill Bridge An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar today officially opened the new Cockhill Bridge in Buncrana.

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar officially opening the new Cockhill Bridge in Buncrana with Minister for State Joe McHugh TD and Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr. Seamus O’Domhnaill.

This new €3.15 million bridge spans 28 meters with a 7 meter wide carriageway and two walkways and replaces the 200 year old bridge which is being retained to serve as a new pedestrian and cycle crossing of the river as well as an ideal fishing spot.

Speaking at the official opening An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said “I am delighted to be here today in Donegal for the official opening of Cockhill Bridge, which will have a position impact on the daily lives of people living not just in Buncrana but right across the Inishowen peninsula. About 10,000 people will cross the bridge every day, whether it’s getting to and from school and work, or people visiting the area to see the Wild Atlantic Way or Ireland’s most northerly point at Malin Head. I’m really pleased to see the old bridge being retained as a cycling and walking amenity for the local community.

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaking at the official opening of the new Cockhill Bridge in Buncrana.

“The Government is committed to investing in this region and local people can be assured that further investment will flow in the coming years through Project Ireland 2040, our national development plan, including increased investment in Donegal’s roads and transport infrastructure. I would like to congratulate all of those involved in bringing this project to fruition - this is a very good day for Buncrana."

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The new bridge, funded by the Department of Transport, was designed by Roughan & O’Donovan Consulting engineers.

The substructure is made from reinforced concrete abutments, supported on pads made integral with the deck at the diaphragms. Precast prestressed concrete ‘W’ beams, 40 meters in length, with a reinforced concrete deck slab make up the superstructure.

The bridge was constructed in three phases.

Phase one involved site clearance and formation of roads and this work was completed

by Donegal County Council Roads team in Inishowen Municipal District this accelerated the delivery of the project by allowing the project to proceed while a bridge contractor was being procured. The second phase involved the Cllr Martin Farren, Cathaoirleach of Inishowen MD speaking at the construction of the bridge structure by Wills Bros official opening of the new Cockhill Bridge in Buncrana.

Ltd supervised by Roughan & O’Donovan Consulting engineers and Donegal County Council and phase three involved the completion of the approach roads to the bridge and connection of the bridge to the road network and decommissioning of the old bridge.

This work was undertaken by the Council’s Roads team in Inishowen Municipal District.

Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr. Seamus O’Domhnaill acknowledged the benefits that the bridge is already bringing to the region saying “motorists are already experiencing reduced journey times of 10 minutes between Buncrana and Carndonagh during peak traffic times since this bridge opened earlier this year and in July Ballyliffin hosted the very successful Dubai Duty Free Irish Open with almost 100,000 people attending, this bridge was vital in allowing traffic to flow freely to this event.

Councillors of the Inishowen Municipal District with Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council and Deputy Charlie McConalogue TD at the new Cockhill Bridge in Buncrana which was officially opened by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

From left to right Cllr. Martin McDermott, Cllr. Paul Canning, Cllr. Nicholas Crossan, Cllr. Martin Farren, Cathaoirleach of Inishowen MD, Cllr. Seamus O’Domnhaill Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr. Rena Donaghey, Deputy Charlie McConalogue TD, Cllr. Bernard McGuinness and Cllr. Mickey Doherty.

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We are highly experienced civil engineering contractors, working with local authorities across the country since 1988 • Substantial expertise in public realm projects and in managing relationships with stakeholders

• Roads and bridges are a longstanding strong point within JCL – we have completed over 150 bridge and road projects • Our Health & Safety, Quality and Environmental Systems are all accredited by NSAI

• Long standing reputation of collaborative partnership with our Clients, to produce the best results both for the individual project and the communities in which we operate

John Cradock Ltd, Unit 5, Kilcullen Business Campus, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare P: 045-484484 E: info@johncradock.ie

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“This type of investment is vital if we are to realise the potential of Donegal and indeed the North West region.

I am confident that this bridge will not only provide a much safer bridge for motorists and pedestrians but will continue to allow for the further development of tourism related business as well as business in general in Inishowen and will help provide the transport infrastructure to meet Inishowen’s potential as a great place to live, work in and visit”.

Councillors of the Inishowen Municipal District with Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr. Seamus O’Domhnaill and Deputy Charlie McConalogue TD along with members of the local community at the new Cockhill Bridge in Buncrana which was officially opened by An Taoiseach Leo Varadka.

Cathaoirleach of Inishowen Municipal District Cllr. Martin Farren paid tribute to all those who contributed to the construction of the new bridge and acknowledged that for almost 40 years local public representatives working with the local community have called for a new bridge to replace the narrow old one at Cockhill.

“I would like to commend everyone involved in the construction of this new bridge, from the Consulting Engineers, the building contractors, our own Council staff and most importantly the land owners and local residents and businesses who were so co-operative throughout the construction period”.

He added “traffic management was a major issue and affected all stakeholders. Daily life, for quite a number of people and properties and commercial premises, was affected during the construction of the bridge. The patience and co-operation of all these people helped ensure that the new bridge opened on schedule and this is a massive credit to the landowners, community, local businesses and commuters who use this road daily and we thank you sincerely for this.”

Cathaoirleach of Inishowen MD Cllr. Martin Farren with councillors of the Inishowen Municipal District, Council staff including Senior Engineer Brendan O’Donnell, Senior Executive Engineer Seamus Hopkins and staff from the Council’s Roads and Transportation Directorate who were directly involved in the design and construction of the new Cockhill Bridge in Buncrana which was officially opened by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar .

The new Cockhill Bridge was officially opened on Tuesday 11 September 2018 at 12 noon by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. Minister for State Joe McHugh TD, Deputy Charlie McConalogue TD and Senator Padraig McLochlainn also attended the event.

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Church St. Athlone Regeneration and Enhancement In 2018, with the support of EU co-funding (BMW Region Urban Development Fund – Designated Urban Centres Grants Scheme), Church St Athlone is being transformed from:

Background It has been a longstanding ambition of Westmeath County Council to affect environmental enhancement of Church St. Athlone, as the condition of the main thoroughfare was poor and reflected badly on the town. It was congested with traffic and the footpaths were substandard and uncomfortable, particularly for people with buggies or for people with disabilities. The condition of the street was also having an impact on the vitality and viability of Church Street and the town at large.

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With the announcement of the EU co-funding in 2015, it was agreed to submit this scheme for consideration and this was successful.

Procurement and design Consultants were procured under eTender and Nicholas de Jong & Associates were appointed in May 2016.

The objectives of the public realm scheme were the creation of a calm environment with a sense of place, with ease of access to all and which contributes to the economic vitality of the town. Four design options were considered, namely: 1.

2.

3.

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One way traffic westbound One way traffic eastbound Remain as two way traffic and Pedestrianise Street

A traffic study with detailed flow modelling examined each of these and an appraisal of the design options under the objectives was carried out.

One way westbound emerged as the preferred option and the elected members agreed to bring this forward for Part 8 consideration; this generated a lot of local interest and was subsequently approved by the members of Westmeath County Council in April 2017.

Detailed construction documentation was then drawn up and published on eTender.

Construction In the meantime advance works on Church St, improvements to surrounding junctions, traffic signal changes and new (Orange Loop) signage was erected by direct labour.

John Cradock Ltd was appointed as contractor in January 2018 and works became one-way in mid February and the Street was handed over to the contractor in early March. The contractor has put traffic management measures and diversions in place throughout the works and these will continue until completion.

Communications Strategy A leaflet was produced by the Council and featured the “Orange Loop” system traffic flow system around the town centre which was put in place before the introduction of the one-way.

In February 2018, Athlone Municipal District held a media launch and the leaflets were inserted into local papers. Radio advertising on 4 local stations was also carried out and ongoing letters to local residents and businesses are issued. A weekly liaison meeting of Chamber of Commerce, Contractor, traders and the Council have been held since March and minutes are uploaded on the Council website. The Council have a project liaison officer engaged in the project.

The scheme is over 200m in length and will cost in the region of €4m with EU funding of €1.5m.

There has been very positive feedback from the public and traders and initial concerns on the impact on businesses and traffic have been managed in a practical, co-operative way. Westmeath County Council is very satisfied with both the progress and quality of the works and look forward to the practical completion of the scheme before the end of the year.

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FIREBIRD LAUNCH NEW ENVIROGREEN LOW NOX BOILER RANGE ndustry frontrunners Firebird have launched an exciting new range of Low NOx oil-fired boilers ahead of the second phase of the Ecodesign Directive. The Envirogreen range features a cutting-edge low NOx burner designed in conjunction with European burner experts elco, which is easily installed, commissioned and serviced using a single Allen Key. Boasting technological superiority, the incorporation of the Firebird by elco burner solves the many operational problems that are currently being experienced within the industry. Offering unbeatable reliability due to the absence of error-prone parts, the highly efficient Envirogreen range includes models for internal and external applications in a variety of outputs. Backed by PCDB listed performance data, the Envirogreen boiler looks set to become the first choice for installers and homeowners alike - and all without any associated price premium.

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The trouble-free plug and play burner, which requires only two settings for pump and air pressure makes installation a breeze. To ensure the highest level of efficiency is achieved by the burner, the CO2 level is factory-set at optimum 12.5%. Should this need to be adjusted for any reason, the CO2 level settings are printed on the burner casing which acts as a handy reference guide. With an easily operated Firebird digital control box and a simple diagnostic system, installation really couldn’t be more straightforward.

Commenting on the launch of the new Envirogreen range of boilers, Mark Doyle, General Manager of Firebird Heating Solutions Ltd said: “The launch of this new low NOx range with its cutting-edge burner technology underlines Firebird’s ongoing commitment to provide the industry with innovative, environmentally-friendly, yet practical heating solutions. The Envirogreen range not only offers outstanding reliability, but solves a problem that the heating industry has struggled to address - to find a reliable and cost-effective low NOx alternative to the yellow flame burner.’

The Ecodesign Directive is a European initiative put in place which governs the design and performance of energy using products, to reduce the amount of energy consumed and the subsequent impact on the environment. New requirements on flue gas emissions state that from September 2018, harmful nitrogen oxide emissions from domestic oil boilers must not exceed 120mg/kWh. Nitrogen Oxide emissions – or NOx emissions as they are more commonly known are released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels are burned.

Featuring multi-directional flue options for ease of installation, all Firebird boilers provide a lowmaintenance option due to the long life of serviceable components. Firebird specialise in providing a total heating package solution which includes oil-fired boilers, air source heat pumps, biomass boilers and solar thermal systems.

Firebird’s new envirogreen range features a cutting-edge low NOx burner designed in conjunction with european burner experts elco.

For further information on the new Envirogreen range please visit

www.firebird.ie or contact Firebird Heating Solutions

Tel: 026 45253

Email: sales@firebird.ie LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS

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Government Launches €1.25bn Land Development Agency to build 150,000 New Homes The Government has launched the Land Development Agency to build 150,000 new homes over the next 20 years, the next step of Project Ireland 2040.

The new Agency has an immediate focus on managing the State’s own lands to develop new homes, and regenerate under-utilised sites. In the longer-term it will assemble strategic landbanks from a mix of public and private lands, making these available for housing in a controlled manner which brings essential long-term stability to the Irish housing market.

An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar said the LDA will come to be seen to be as significant as the decision to establish the ESB, Aer Lingus or the IDA.

Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy signs the new agency into law today by Statutory Instrument, with a chief and management team already in place. It has an initial pipeline of State land which is capable of delivering 10,000 homes, with 3,000 of those homes on lands which have already been secured. The Agency is already in the process of expanding its portfolio.

The LDA will have two main functions: • Coordinating appropriate State lands for regeneration and development, opening up key sites which are not being used effectively for housing delivery; and • Driving strategic land assembly, working with both public and private sector land owners to smooth out peaks and troughs of land supply, stabilising land values and delivering increased affordability.

The LDA is modelled on best European practice as already demonstrated in Germany and the Netherlands.

By assembling land packages ahead of the planning and infrastructure stages, the Agency can lower

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development land costs and tackle upward pressure on house prices.

The Agency will be a commercial State-sponsored body, acting within a clear Government policy framework: that all public land disposals must deliver at least 40% of any housing potential on such lands in the form of social (10%) and affordable (30%) housing.

It will establish a national centre of expertise for State bodies and local authorities, using experienced staff with expertise in project management finance, planning, development and procurement. It will be further underpinned by dedicated legislation, overseen by an independent board and provided with both the initial and longterm capital to function on a commercial basis.

An Taoiseach said: “The Land Development Agency, with capital of €1.25 billion behind it, is a step change in the Government’s involvement in the housing market. We are going to build new homes and lots of them.

That includes social housing, affordable housing, private housing and cost rental housing on both publicly and privately owned land.

“While the indicators show that the numbers of new houses being built is up by more than a third compared to this time last year and is increasing month on month, we are still facing a huge challenge in meeting demand.

We know we are playing catch up after our housing sector was destroyed. The Land Development Agency is a Government intervention that is 50 years overdue and which, in time, I believe will be seen to be as significant as the decision to establish the ESB, Aer Lingus or the IDA.” Minister for Housing Planning and Local Government Eoghan Murphy said: “The consensus is that tackling boom-bust cycles of house prices depends on tackling similar cycles in land supply through State driven Active Land Management and this is precisely what the LDA is about. The LDA will enable Government to address traditional volatility in land prices as a result of land speculation as well as delays in delivering housing and strategic urban redevelopment generally as a result of delays in delivery due to disparate land ownership and cost allocation for infrastructure.

“Establishing the LDA creates a powerful new driver of urban regeneration with the lands, skillsets and capital needed that will assure housing delivery, including the social, affordable and market housing so badly needed for our citizens.”

Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe said: “The adoption of a more proactive land management role by the State is critical to solving the current housing crisis and creating downward pressure on land prices. The LDA will be given access to land that is already in wider State ownership or control for development, and it will have access to capital from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund and other private finance, which it will raise itself commercially. This combination of land and capital for investment will enable the Agency to prepare development plans for these sites and subsequently to fund the development of the sites and construction of housing on a commercial basis. This will enable the Agency to make a significant difference to housing supply in the years ahead, which will have far wider competitiveness benefits.

“Furthermore, the Agency will be able to take a long term strategic approach to land acquisition and management. The longer term effect of its establishment will be to stabilise the supply and development of land for housing and wider development purposes, thus positively disrupting the traditionally upwards pressure on development land prices.”

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Futureproof home heating with Grant Firmly positioned at the front of Ireland’s plumbing and heating industry, award-winning heat technology manufacturer Grant has been providing reliable, efficient and cutting-edge heating solutions for over forty years, from the highly popular Vortex condensing oil boiler range, to the innovative VortexAir Hybrid and superefficient Aerona3 inverter driven air source heat pumps (ASHP). With an increasing focus on more sustainable and environmentally-friendly forms of home heating, Grant is ensuring households throughout Ireland have more choice thanks to the Grant Aerona3 ASHP range, and its availability in three single phase models of 6kW, 10kW and 16kW. Boasting an impressive A++ ErP rating, the Aerona3 ASHP range provides both heat and hot water to the property and is perfectly suited for those building or retrofitting. With a sleek and compact design, each model within the range incorporates a number of clever features including greater operating efficiencies at lower external temperatures, larger outputs to match the type of properties encountered and reduced noise levels when working.

Operating on an air to water system which utilises heat energy captured from the air in ‘wet’ heating system radiators or underfloor heating, the heat source used by the Grant Aerona3 ASHP is entirely renewable, helping to reduce the amount of harmful greenhouse gases released into the environment and ultimately lowering the overall carbon footprint of a household. The Aerona3 not only helps households to meet their goals of adding greener heating technology to the home but can also help generate savings on annual fuel bills. Depending on the flow temperature and the climate conditions at the time, an Aerona3 ASHP can deliver over four times the amount of energy for every 1kW of electricity used.

These market leading heat pumps also have a superior seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) even if temperatures outside were to drop as low as -20°C. The ability of the unit to modulate up or down depending on the climate conditions and demand on the heating system also ensures added peace of mind that the heating system is being as efficient as possible all year round. For new properties being built, the Aerona3 offers the added bonus of helping its users achieve Part L compliance as outlined in building regulations and is also eligible for the Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland (SEAI) grant of up to €3,500. For more information visit www.seai.ie.

Grant’s recently launched low temperature aluminium radiators – the Grant Alu Rads – are the perfect pairing for the Grant Aerona3 ASHP and provide the ultimate home heating solution as both products are designed specifically to operate at a lower temperature. The Grant Alu Rad has curved surfaces, a brilliant white powder coated finish and is available from 6 – 15 panels, as either a standard or vertical rad, ensuring that it can fit any application.

Avail of Grant’s free of charge heat loss calculation service to help select the best sized product for your project by emailing project plans to heatpump@grantengineering.ie

For more information on Grant’s range of heating products visit www.grant.eu LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS

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Polystyrene Recycling “Waste Matters simply offers a polystyrene recycling service. Because of the bulky nature of this problematic material their innovative approach is to travel to the material and process on site. A 40 ft container load of polystyrene can be processed down to one single pallet allowing economic transport and turning this historically landfill destined material into a raw material for further use. “

Ideal for recycling centres.

We also make available two sizes of a smaller machine for rental or outright purchase. Both machines are portable and on wheels so can be moved around to and from where the material is being produced to avoid additional handling. The smaller machine MW130 is single phase and good for dry electrical waste.

The second machine WM 200 is three phase and can handle wet material such as fish boxes etc.

Material when blocked is stacked onto pallets and we collect on a regular basis free of charge. We are fully permitted for the collection of this material. We are happy to visit and assess requirements and make recommendations. We also offer a week’s free trial to ensure machine is correct size for requirement. We also have a larger models if needed.

Contact: 057 8679692, 0879020354 Email: info@wastematters.ie www.wastematters.ie LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS

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Cork County Council Ahead of the Curve ork County Council was the first Local Authority in Ireland to achieve ISO 50001 Certification.

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A significant achievement in many ways, but particularly, as it is one of the largest County Councils in the country. The certification was achieved, as a result of hard work and dedication by the energy management team and with the help of energy management tools such as ResourceKraft’s Advisor Energy Analytics Software.

The Councils energy portfolio consists of several Significant Energy Users (SEU’s) consuming large amounts of energy each year, including three directly managed swimming pools and a large County Hall building with 17 floors, laboratories and area offices. Due to the vast nature of their SEU’s, Cork County Council recognised the difficulty in gathering, measuring and managing such a diverse The energy team, through a competition process, engaged the services of ResourceKraft to achieve this in an efficient manner and to help them on the road to ISO 50001 certification. The addition of sub metering in all the SEU buildings along with ResourceKraft Advisor Energy Analytics software meant that the process of monitoring energy usage became automated and centralised to the energy management team.

This resulted in many benefits for Cork County Council. Here are just a few: – – – –

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Building managers no longer had to manually record energy data, saving significant time and effort.

The energy management team could use the baseline data recorded, to develop energy performance indicators.

The automated reports feature in Advisor Energy Analytics system allowed the energy team to report on energy performance indicators and report back to SEU’s on any non-conformance.

The system allows different ways to view energy data through heat mapper and cost mapper tools.

This allowed the team to easily investigate areas for improvement and plan for the following years energy saving opportunities.

The ease of use of the system resulted in more buy in with building managers (and users) as the stakeholders could instantly see the effects of any changes they made.

“There is work to achieving ISO50001 certification and one of the key pillars is the measurement of your energy use. Having a centralised energy measurement system such as ResourceKraft’s Advisor Energy Analytics, to analyse and identify opportunities and to do this as efficiently as possible certainly helped Cork County Council achieve ISO50001 certification.”

Brian Ahern, A/Senior Executive Engineer, Cork County Council

Save Energy Today. Contact ResourceKraft on 01-905 2999 or email hello@resourcekraft.com.

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ISO 50001 for Energy Management gets a boost Reducing energy consumption and improving energy efficiency are at the forefront of the global climate change agenda. ISO 50001, the flagship International Standard for improving energy performance, has just been updated.

Energy consumption is on the rise, despite the fact that it contributes to nearly 60 % of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.1) At the same time, more than one billion people still lack access to electricity and many more rely on harmful, polluting energy sources.2) It is no surprise, then, that addressing energy efficiency and climate change challenges make up a key part of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

ISO 50001:2018, Energy management systems – Requirements with guidance for use, transformed the energy performance of organizations worldwide when it was first published in 2011, giving them a strategic tool to use their energy more efficiently and effectively. It provides a framework for managing energy performance and addressing energy costs, while helping companies reduce their environmental impact to meet emissions reduction targets.

ISO 50001 has just been revised, making it even more effective to tackle the world’s energy challenges.

Roland Risser, Chair of the ISO technical committee that developed the standard, said the new version features updated terms and definitions and greater clarification of certain energy performance concepts.

“There is a stronger emphasis on the role of top management as well, as it is important to instilling an organizational culture change,” he explained. “It is also now aligned with ISO’s requirements for management system standards, making it easier to integrate into an organization’s existing management systems.”

ISO 50001 has become increasingly important since its release seven years ago. A total of 20 216 certificates to ISO 50001 were issued by the end of 2016, according to the ISO Survey, which reveals that certifications to the standard increased by 69 % during that year. ISO 50001:2018 was developed by ISO technical committee ISO/TC 301, Energy management and energy savings, whose secretariat is held jointly by ANSI, ISO’s member for the USA, and SAC, ISO’s member for China.

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WHY ENERGY MANAGEMENT?

Environmental concerns and the need to be globally competitive are providing a driving force for local government and industry to change the way energy use and energy costs are viewed. Rather than being an inevitable cost of doing business, energy is now considered to be a manageable input to the process, much like any raw material or other resource cost.

QMS Solutions as ISO 50001 Energy Management specialists have the relevant knowledge, experience and expertise to guide and / or assist your organisation through the design, development and implementation of an energy management program, tailored to exacting needs.

Our principal consultant (Noel Long) is also a leading trainer and mentor in ISO and energy management systems. Noel has successfully assisted a range of organisations, public and private, across all sectors with ISO systems implementation and certification, from Urban Designers and Planners, Architects, Consulting Engineers, Civil Engineers, Main Contractors and Sub-contractors.

Sectors include Agri-Food, Pharmaceutical, Medical Devices, Manufacturing and Professional Service Providers. QMS Solutions deliver the benefit of this experience to all clients.

ISO 50001 standards alignment can deliver for all stakeholders; to create an enabling environment; to enable industry; to position organisations for growth and development; to removing barriers to trade and to provide leadership towards sustainable environmental and energy management.

The first step in managing energy costs is creating an energy management plan. ISO 50001:2011 provides the ideal, non-prescriptive and globally recognised management systems framework as the foundation for organisational energy management.

For further information, please contact QMS Solutions @ W. www.qmssolutions.ie • E. info@qmssolutions.ie • T. 353-1-8079746 LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS

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Cut down on energy costs with ISO 50001 How often do you think about your energy usage? Have you ever considered just how much money you could be losing to inefficient or overcomplicated processes?

Tracking energy wastage can be difficult at the best of times. Even if you do find the source of the problem, finding a solution can be easier said than done.

ISO 50001 – Energy Management Systems – offers organisations a systematic, structured approach towards measuring and monitoring energy use, and is applicable to any organisation – whatever your size, industry or location. It’s never too late to reduce your environmental impact whilst enhancing your reputation with prospective clients.

Interested to find out more? IMSM will work with your business to implement and help maintain the ISO 50001 - Energy Management System. We deliver high quality ISO consultancy services on a fixed fee, trouble free basis Take control of your energy usage today! For a free consultation or to find out more information on ISO 50001 contact IMSM today: marketing@imsm.com, or call us on 01793 688990.

You can also visit imsm.com for more information.

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Ei launches 3000 Series – Fire and CO Alarms for Full Circle Protection Ei, Ireland’s market leader in domestic mains powered Fire and Carbon Monoxide (CO) detection, has launched the new 3000 Series. This technologically advanced series detects both Fire and CO and includes, for the very first time, a Multi-Sensor Heat & CO Alarm, providing whole property coverage from one series.

3000 Series “The 3000 Series represents one of the most significant advances of the Ei product range in recent years” states Ei’s Sales & Product Applications Manager for Ireland, Tom Meehan.

“It’s the coming together of the very latest alarm technologies with Ei’s reputation for unbeatable reliability and quality. We refer to the 3000 Series as having ‘intelligent simplicity’ – we’ve built intelligence in to every alarm whilst ensuring simplicity for every install.”

Multi-sensor Heat and CO Alarm Unique to the 3000 Series, the Ei3028 Multi-Sensor Heat & CO Alarm has been much anticipated as a convenient, cost-effective, efficient solution to protecting residents from both Fire and CO. With high heat sources from cooking appliances posing a potential fire hazard and gas fuelled appliances representing a potential source of CO, combining Heat and CO detection in one alarm is a sensible approach, welcomed by landlords, contractors and residents alike.

In addition to the Ei3028 Multi-Sensor Heat & CO Alarm, the 3000 Series incorporates a mains powered DualSensor Fire Alarm and single sensor Optical, Heat & CO Alarms. All alarms in the Series use the same easifit base (a first for Ei CO Alarms) and feature intelligent sensors, AudioLINK data extraction and SmartLINK wireless interconnection and whole system data monitoring capability.

AudioLINK Data Extraction Technology Ei’s multiple award winning AudioLINK data extraction technology enables real time alarm data (e.g. number of times tested and details of alarm activations) to be extracted directly to a smartphone or tablet via an App which creates an Alarm Status Report. It identifies any issues enabling action to be taken immediately, which is effective for tenant safety and in reducing the cost of return visits to a property. AudioLINK also aids compliance for landlords, providing proof that alarms are working at the start of a new tenancy and with annual gas safety checks.

SmartLINK Technology Next generation Radio Frequency (RF) technology, SmartLINK enables alarms and system accessories to be interconnected using RF signals rather than hard wiring. Hard wired interconnection is time consuming, disruptive and costly in existing properties, whereas wireless interconnection is quick, easy and requires no redecorating. The new SmartLINK technology is smarter and easier to use than its predecessors and futureproof. What’s more, Ei is currently developing SmartLINK technology to enable a Gateway and Portal based system with real-time notifications.

All alarms in the 3000 Series are backwards compatible with existing Ei products, including the groundbreaking Ei450 Alarm Controller and Ei414 Fire/CO Alarm Interface.

The Launch As part of the official launch, Ei’s bespoke Mobile Training and Demo Unit will be hitting the road. The unit will be travelling the country, giving all customers a chance to get closer to products, technologies and learn about Standards and Regulations for free. This professional training is CPD accredited and specifically tailored to operations in Ireland. Add on modules are available to cater to different business needs. If you would like to know more about how you can book the Mobile Training and Demo Unit, email expertinstaller@eielectronics.ie

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Market Leading Nordic EV Charging Expertise Implemented Locally by Large Corporations, Municipal Buildings Norway has the world’s most mature Electric Vehicle market – in 2017 29% of all new cars were EV. They have a target of selling ONLY selling EV’s in just 7 years time, 2025. Public sentiment backs this movement, with almost half of Norwegians intending to buy electric on their next car purchase. To meet this demand, the Norwegian Government has launched a programme to finance the establishment of at least two fast charging stations every 50km on all main roads in the country.

Garo Electric Limited’s Nordic counterparts are electric vehicle charging market leaders in the region and have completed numerous high profile installations. They have now imported this extensive experience, innovation and expertise to Ireland, offering a premium quality end-to-end range for the local market.

Over the last 12 months, Garo has completed installations across a number of prominent organisations including Fingal County Council, The CRU (Commission for Regulation of Utilities Water and Energy), Facebook, Musgraves and the National Treasury Management Agency.

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Garo are the only supplier on the island of Ireland to provide the full EV range from Wall Chargers through to Fast & Super Fast Stations, providing local service, support and after care with their own engineers network.

The comprehensive range offers charging solutions for institutions, municipal buildings, workplaces, offices, shopping centres, car parking & public spaces, service stations & more.

Garo’s technical team are on hand to advise customers on the best charging solution for their setting, users and budget. A key feature of the range is smart technology allowing for easy operation and a highly positive user experience. This includes RFID functionality, WiFi and Dynamic Load Balancing and Cloud Billing / Reporting Systems – giving the user complete control of the charger and who can charge. A unique load balancing function allows the charging station to adapt to the demands of the user’s system. A 3 year warranty comes as standard across the range.

GARO’s Product Development team are continually developing and enhancing the charging range to meet the future requirements of their customers.

Find our more at www.garo.ie/evcharging LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS

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ERP Recycles 92 Million AA Batteries - enough to circle the island of Ireland or fill Dublin’s Spire twice Celebrating 10-year anniversary of the EU Batteries Directive in Ireland The European Recycling Platform (ERP), Ireland’s only pan-European compliance scheme, today celebrated the ten-year anniversary of the EU Batteries Directive 2006/66/EC in Ireland. ERP has collected over 1,809 tonnes of batteries since the Directive was launched in 2008. This is equivalent to 92 million AA batteries – enough to circle the island of Ireland; fill Dublin’s Spire twice or power an average Irish household for 72 years!

In 2012, European member states were tasked with achieving a collection rate of 25% of all waste portable batteries placed on the market. The target increased to 45% in 2016. ERP is delighted to announce that in 2017, it surpassed the EU target with a collection rate of 64%.

Commenting on ERP’s success surpassing the EU collection rate, Martin Tobin, CEO, said: “Since the launch of the EU Waste Battery Directive in September 2008, ERP has worked hard to establish a robust collection infrastructure and has created programmes like ‘Batteries for Barretstown’ to change the nation’s attitude towards recycling waste batteries. I am delighted to announce that in the ten years since the Directive was launched, ERP has collected 1,809 tonnes of batteries which is the equivalent in weight to 45 Boeing 737s or 1,121 Irish rugby teams!

Pictured at the celebrations was Martin Tobin, ERP CEO, Ali and Sam Kinahan Barretstown campers.

I would like to thank all the stakeholders involved, our members, the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, the Producer Register, the EPA, local authorities, waste contractors and the general public. Consumers are increasingly more environmentally aware and in the past ten years we have seen peoples’ recycling activities change for the better. We can do more, however, to divert batteries being unnecessarily sent to landfill, in a bid to drive a sustainable circular economy and protect the environment.”

In 2017, ERP Ireland launched ‘Batteries for Barretstown’ to drive the recycling of batteries across Ireland through local authorities, schools, libraries, retailers and all public amenities whilst communicating the importance of recycling batteries responsibly, and raising much-needed funds to power positivity at Barretstown. Funds raised by the ‘Batteries for Barretstown’ campaign are helping to power positivity by funding the charity’s energy costs. Since the campaign was launched last year, ERP has already seen an increase in collections by almost 45%.

To mark the success of the ‘Batteries for Barretstown’ campaign and the EU Batteries Directive, ERP has launched its Battery Recycling Bag. The biodegradable bag will be distributed to schools, libraries and retailers for people to gather up their batteries at home for recycling.

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€1.4 million announced for Tidy Towns Committees around country to mark 60th Anniversary of event Listowel, Co. Kerry was named as Ireland’s Tidiest Town for 2018. In this, the 60th Anniversary year of the TidyTowns competition, Listowel was best of a record number of 883 entries from towns and villages throughout the country in the SuperValu National TidyTowns competition. The announcement was greeted with great jubilation at the awards ceremony at The Helix in Dublin.

On hand to present the prizes was Mr. Michael Ring, T.D., Minister for Rural and Community Development and Mr. Martin Kelleher, Managing Director of SuperValu, the competition’s sponsor for the 27th year. The Helix was packed with representatives of TidyTowns groups from all over the country, eagerly awaiting the announcement of the winners.

Listowel, Co. Kerry also claimed the award of Ireland’s Tidiest Small Town. Other winners included Glaslough, Co. Monaghan receiving the award for Ireland’s Tidiest Village. Westport, Co. Mayo, received the award of Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town, while Ballincollig, Co. Cork was declared asIreland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre.

Speaking after the awards ceremony, Minister Ring said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Listowel who are very deserving winners. Listowel is one of a small number of centres who have consistently entered the competition since its launch in 1958 and in the intervening years have worked steadfastly on improving their position in the SuperValu TidyTowns competition. Today, all that dedication and effort has paid off.

I also want to congratulate all of the other prize-winners announced today. The work of all those involved in the TidyTowns effort results in the attractive and welcoming towns and villages we see all over the country.

The voluntary work that people put in to their communities brings great pride, a great sense of achievement and great camaraderie to those communities. That is why this competition has flourished for 60 years.

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Minister Ring also announced a special allocation of €1.4 million to support the work of individual Tidy Towns Committees around the country in order to mark the 60th anniversary of the event.

The Minister said:“On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the competition, I am making available €1.4 million from the Government in order to directly support the Tidy Towns groups that bring out the best in our towns and villages. I have no doubt that towns and villages across the country will benefit hugely from this investment. Wherever you have active Tidy Towns committees, it gives the place a real boost and creates the environment for tourism.”

The Minister also thanked SuperValu, the competition’s sponsor. He said: “I want to pay tribute to SuperValu, who are now in their 27th year as sponsor and have worked with us to grow the competition. It is getting stronger every year with increased participation, an increased number of awards and a notable increase in the efforts of the communities involved.

Supervalu have shown fantastic support for the competition, not only through their financial sponsorship but also through the support provided to local TidyTowns groups by their network of local retailers.”

Martin Kelleher, Managing Director, SuperValu said:“I would like to congratulate Listowel for being named Ireland’s Tidiest Town 2018. The commitment, dedication and passion of the Listowel SuperValu TidyTowns committee is remarkable, and I would also like to commend the support that they received from Listowel SuperValu to win the overall award. I would also like to congratulate the category winners who received awards this year as we mark the 60th anniversary of the competition – your limitless energy and hard work really shone through.

2018 was a landmark year for SuperValu TidyTowns, with close to 900 committees entering and 12 new committees getting involved for the first time this year. I would like to thank all of these new SuperValu TidyTowns committees for getting involved during the 60th year of the competition.

It goes to show that SuperValu TidyTowns is a unique initiative, there is no other competition like it in the rest of Europe, thanks to the commitment of volunteers, committees and SuperValu retailers.

The competition has had a huge benefit across Ireland for the past 60 years, and this year was no exception, with SuperValu TidyTowns committees building greenways, eradicating plastic straw use and delivering heritage projects, while bringing people from all ages and backgrounds together to build thriving, sustainable communities.

SuperValu is committed to building thriving, sustainable communities across the country and SuperValu TidyTowns is one of the best ways for us to achieve this. We are delighted to have been involved in the TidyTowns competition for the past 27 years and look forward to continuing to work with communities in the coming years.

The SuperValu TidyTowns competition is organised by the Department of Rural and Community Development and sponsored by SuperValu who have sponsored the competition since 1992.

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SOUTH BEACH PLAYGROUND, GREYSTONES We are an established yet dynamic company based in Northern Ireland and working throughout Ireland and the UK. Our experienced team has been designing and installing playgrounds since 1996 and we've become experts in delivering innovative playspaces.

We believe in the importance of developing the next generation through play.

We are passionate about creating the best possible play experience for all who use our playgrounds. Our childfocused, design-led approach ensures that schemes are innovative, educational, challenging, stimulating, ageappropriate and above all, fun!

We had the pleasure of working with the South Beach Play Area Community Group in Greystones, Co. Wicklow on their playground project and we hope that they enjoy their new facility for many years to come!

We offer a complimentary consultation service so if you would like to discuss your play area design, supply and/or installation we would love you to get in touch using the details on our website www.all-play.com LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS

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Innovative treatment solutions proposed for Carlow as Irish Water submits planning applications Sustainable solution for the long term treatment of wastewater sludge Irish Water has lodged planning applications for eight innovative and environmentally friendly reed beds, representing a €900,000 investment across Carlow. The proposed reed beds will provide a sustainable solution for the long term treatment of wastewater sludge.

What does a sludge drying reed bed do?

The reed bed acts as a natural filter for the sludge that comes out of wastewater treatment plants. This eliminates the need for the removal of the sludge off-site for separate processing.

Irish Water has signed a contract with Glan Agua to design and construct the proposed sludge drying reed beds at eight wastewater treatment plants in Co. Carlow. The proposed locations are:

• Myshall • Ballon • Clonegal • Raheendoran • Fenagh • Palatine •

Kildavin

• Rathoe Environmental, compliance, performance and financial benefits This cost-saving system will have numerous environmental, compliance, performance and financial benefits.

Among those is the removal of tankers carrying sludge from the roads, habitat creation at the treatment plant, greater controls for the caretaker on site, greater compliance and reduction in overflow to rivers. This project will also address noise and odour issues that have been experienced by local residents.

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Tony McLoughlin TD and Cathaoirleach O’Domhnaill cut the ribbon on the €25m wastewater investment project in Donegal

TD Tony McLoughlin and Cathaoirleachof DCC Seamus O Domhnaill along with other dignatories and staff of IW DCC JO'D JB Barry Veolia and Bam

Works will stop the discharge of untreated sewage and enhance tourism Tony McLoughlin TD and Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Seamus O’Domhnaill, today (Friday) officially opened four wastewater treatment plants in Co Donegal. The schemes in Bundoran, Killybegs, Glencolumbkille and Convoy were constructed and upgraded as part of a €25 million investment by Irish Water.

This essential project, which was carried out by Veolia Water Ireland, will ensure many benefits for the four areas including environmental benefits, improved bathing water quality for surfers and swimmers, enhanced amenity value and the capacity for future population growth.

Construction of two new wastewater treatment plants Working in partnership with Donegal County Council, We have invested in the construction of two new wastewater treatment plants in Bundoran and Killybegs where raw sewage was being discharged out to sea.

The works in Bundoran have put a stop to the discharge of the equivalent of 9,600 wheelie bins of raw sewage per day into the sea while in Killybegs, the equivalent of 3,300 wheelie bins of raw sewage are now no longer being discharged. A new wastewater treatment plant was also construted in Glencolumbkille while wastewater infrastructure upgrade works are complete in Convoy.

The event to mark the completion of works at all four locations took place today in Bundoran.

Speaking at the ribbon cutting, Tony McLoughlin TD said: “Prior to the completion of these works, Bundoran and Killybegs were two of the 44 locations around Ireland where wastewater was being discharged into the sea untreated. It is hard to believe that this was permitted to occur for so long considering the importance of the vibrant surfing and sea recreation that takes places in the region.

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Final Effluent ready for discharge at Bundoran WWTP Project will improve water quality in four locations

“Irish Water is to be commended for completing this work as part of its commitment to end the practise of discharging untreated wastewater across Ireland by 2021. This necessary project will ensure environmental protection and improved water quality in four locations across Donegal while underpinning the developmental potential of the four areas.”

Upgrade works will improve treatment capacity Colm Boyd, Irish Water’s Infrastructure Programme Regional Lead added: “These upgrade works will increase the treatment capacity of each of the plants to meet the current needs of the towns and to allow for future growth. The works will also ensure that wastewater is treated and discharged in compliance with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Regulations and with the conditions of the Wastewater Discharge Licence (WWDL) issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It will also improve the water quality of nearby coastal areas, protecting bathing areas and the aquatic environment from pollution.”

Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr Seamus O Domhnaill added: “Today is a red letter day for these four communities who will benefit greatly from this €25 million investment by Irish Water. I am delighted to be officially opening these plants and look forward to the benefits they will bring to the four areas.”

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Halfway to a sewage-free harbour and a cleaner future for the communities of Cork Lower Harbour We’re halfway to a sewage-free harbour by 2021 Irish Water is halfway to its goal of a sewage-free Cork Lower Harbour, creating big opportunities for social, economic and amenity development in the area. When the Cork Lower Harbour Main Drainage Project started in 2015, the equivalent of 40,000 wheelie bins of raw sewage was discharged into the Lower Harbour every day. Working in partnership with Cork County Council, we have now reduced this figure to 20,000 by building a new wastewater treatment plant in Shanbally, and repairing and extending the sewer network to connect more harbour areas to the plant. We’re now halfway towards our goal which is a sewage-free harbour by 2021.

This will being major benefits for all by enhancing the harbour’s amenity value and providing the infrastructure to enable the future growth and development of communities in the Lower Harbour area. It will also ensure that we are compliant with all European and national legislation in relation to the treatment of wastewater.

Creating a conversation in the local community Keeping the local communities informed about the project and its long lasting benefits, while also listening carefully to their feedback has been a top priority for Irish Water since the project began. We have been engaging directly with local residents and businesses as well as schools, voluntary groups, and elected representatives so that we can deliver this essential project while also minimising disruption to all those who live and work in these communities.

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We have also been using local print, broadcast and social media and digital platforms to create a conversation around the project in the lower harbour area. The project page on our website Cork Lower Harbour Main Drainage Project contains detailed information about the project and what it means for people in the area. This includes a video outlining the path towards a cleaner harbour environment and safer amenity for everyone.

Project Manager Déaglán Healy, explained the value of this type of engagement “This is an incredibly important project with massive benefits for everyone living in the lower harbour area for many years to come. As with any development of this scale however, some disruption is unavoidable. We are very conscious of this and it is our top priority to do everything we can to minimise it, while also delivering this project on time and to the highest standard”.

“For that reason we are engaged in an ongoing conversation with people in Ringaskiddy, Carrigaline, Rafeen, Shanbally, Passage West, Glenbrook, Monkstown – people living in the Lower Harbour area – to allow us understand their needs and concerns and to communicate the long term benefits that a sewage free harbour will have for all of us who live and work here. We are using all the means at our disposal to help us carry on this conversation, from radio, newspapers and social media to ongoing direct engagement with all the local communities affected. We are confident this will help us in delivering the best outcome for everyone involved. ” The new wastewater treatment plant at Shanbally began operations in December 2016 treating wastewater from Carrigaline, Crosshaven and Shanbally. Currently works are ongoing in Carrigaline, Ringaskiddy and Glenbrook and the contractor, Ward and Burke Group Limited, is working to install the new sewer network in Passage West and Monkstown. This new sewer network will take sewage - which currently discharges untreated from these areas - to the treatment plant in Shanbally.

Passage West and Monkstown remains open for business While there is no through road at Passage West Library, diversions are in place and all businesses in Passage West and Monkstown can be accessed by car and on foot and we are working to ensure that the community and customers are aware that Passage West and Monkstown remain open for business. Feedback received from the local community has been essential in allowing the project team to put measures in place to mitigate the impact of this work and ensure that access is maintained at all times. We are working closely with local businesses and residents of all areas and encourage anyone with questions or who would like to be kept informed about the project to email us at corklowerharbour@water.ie Déaglán Healy added “We would like to thank local residents and businesses for their patience as we work to complete this work and for the valuable feedback they have given us. We acknowledge that there has been disruption but thanks to the input from people in the area, we have been able to put measures in place to minimise this as much as possible and ensure that Passage West and Monkstown remain fully open for business.”

“As we progress onto the next phases of the project we will continue to take on board all feedback and do everything we can to minimise the impact of this construction work.”

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Balbriggan Skerries Sewerage Network Improvement Scheme progressing to benefit community Project includes the construction of a New Wastewater Pumping Station and Sewer in Skerries Irish Water is investing €8.5 million in the Balbriggan Skerries Sewerage Network Improvement Scheme.

We are constructing a new wastewater pumping station and storm water storage tank on the existing Rush Road Pumping Station site. A new 670meter sewer will also be constructed along Holmpatrick from Shenick Road to Church Street. This project will commence September and is scheduled to be completed in April 2019.

Facilitating future growth in the area This significant investment will help meet the wastewater requirements of domestic and commercial customers in Skerries and the surrounding area. The completion of this project will facilitate future growth in the area and will reduce the maintenance cost associated with the aging network.

The construction of the new storm storage tank will reduce risk of pollution to the nearby watercourses and coastal areas during periods of heavy rainfall. In order to minimise the impact on the community the construction of the sewer will be carried out in short phases. During the construction of the sewer a stop/go system will be in place and it will be necessary to restrict parking from time to time along the street. Traffic management will be continuously monitored to minimise impacts to residents.

Works may result in interruptions to water supply in Skerries As part of the construction it will be necessary to re-locate some existing utilities including an existing water main in order to construct the new sewer pipe in Holmpatrick. This work may result in interruptions to the water supply in Skerries between 10pm on Wednesday 5 September and 7am on Thursday 6 September, 2018. During this time alternative water supplies will be provided at the following locations: • Newtown Parks near Dublin Road Junction • Newtown Parks near Selskar Court Junction • Skerries point Shopping Centre near Eurospar We make every effort to ensure that the alternative drinking water supply provided, including the tanker/bowser and dispensing tap, are adequately disinfected. However, as it is not practical to provide sterilised containers for the public to transport drinking water from the tanker to their homes, we cannot guarantee that any containers used by the public do not negatively impact or contaminate the drinking water. Therefore people are advised to boil this water before use.

Part of wider investment to upgrade the wastewater infrastructure in Fingal Commenting on the project, Esther White, Irish Water Engineer said “This essential construction project forms part of Irish Water’s wider investment to upgrade the wastewater infrastructure in Fingal to protect the environment and to meet the current wastewater infrastructure needs and support future development in the area. We have recently completed the Rush sewer network project to eliminate the discharge of raw sewage into the coastal waters and we are progressing a separate project to upgrade the wastewater infrastructure in Loughshinny.”

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National Leakage Reduction Programme will improve water supply in Bagenalstown Project will improve security of supply, improve water quality and reduce high levels of leakage Irish Water, in partnership with Carlow County Council, is continuing with water network renewal works in Bagenalstown as part of the national Leakage Reduction Programme. While works involving the replacement of 2.5km of old water mains on the Royal Oak Road are coming to completion, the leakage reduction focus is now turning to the replacement of ageing back yard water mains in the town. The replacement of back yard water mains and the provision of new service connections for affected customers will improve security of supply, improve water quality and reduce high levels of leakage.

In some older properties water connections, typically made of iron or lead, were installed to the rear of the property and are often referred to as backyard service connections. The pipework due to age and deteriorating condition is a significant source of leakage and reduced levels of service. Back yard services are usually shared, running through a number of neighbouring properties making it difficult to detect and repair leaks. Since all properties share a connection, leaks and bursts affect all properties often resulting in low pressure.

Works involve decommissioning old back yard mains The works involve decommissioning of approximately 1.8 kilometres of old back yard cast iron water mains and back yard services. New water mains will be constructed along the public road and new service connections will be installed from the new water main to each customer’s property. The communities to benefit from these improvement works are: Kilcarrig Street, Páirc Mhuire, Station House Road, Hurley’s Lane and Kilree Street New service connections will be made with HDPE plastic pipes It is likely that the service connections currently serving these properties from the old back yard water mains in Bagenalstown are made from lead. All new service connections will be made with modern high density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic pipes to ensure a safer, more reliable supply of water to customers in the area.

These works will be carried out by Coffey Northumbrian Ltd in partnership with Carlow County Council on behalf of Irish Water.

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Plans announced for investment in wastewater infrastructure in the towns of Rathmullan, Milford and Ramelton Project will safeguard the environment and protect public health Irish Water is currently progressing the detailed design and planning, through our engineering service provider, of wastewater infrastructure for the towns of Rathmullan, Milford and Ramelton in Co. Donegal.

At present the towns of Rathmullan, Milford and Ramelton have no (Ramelton and Rathmullan) or substandard (Milford) wastewater treatment and are discharging untreated or partially treated wastewater into the environment at these three separate locations. The practice of discharging untreated wastewater is unacceptable and Irish Water intends to rectify this problem.

This project will ensure that there is an adequate treatment of wastewater, for now and into the future, as well as protecting human health and safeguarding the environment. It is envisaged that planning, design and construction will take approximately 3 to 4 years and will be undertaken between 2018 and 2021. Third party surveys and landowner engagement have commenced. Once we have sufficient data from our surveys and we have confirmed the optimum solution for the area we will hold a public information event where people can drop in to meet the project team and find out more about the project.

“This project is extremely important, for Rathmullen, Milford and Ramelton. The practice of discharging untreated waste water is unacceptable and we are working to rectify the problem. We understand the concerns of the local community and have given a commitment to meet with all interested parties when all of the necessary information has been prepared. Irish Water has begun engagement with local stakeholders and will continue to keep stakeholders informed as the project progresses” said Colm Boyd, Irish Water.

Planning application will be submitted in 2019 We will engage with the local community over the course of the project’s development through our Local Liaison Officer, local media and elected representatives. It is expected that the planning application will be submitted to the Local Authority in 2019.

Irish Water is Ireland’s national water utility responsible for providing water and wastewater services throughout the country. Water is one of the most essential resources on earth. Providing clean drinking water and disposing of wastewater in a way that protects the environment is vital to our daily lives, human health and for economic and social development. However, our water and wastewater network is under severe stress and is not meeting modern standards. Many of our water and wastewater assets are very old, with some dating back to the 19th century

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Major project is underway to secure drinking water supply for Dublin with the Leixlip to Saggart Water Main Project Ensure a more secure and resilient water supply for homes and businesses Irish Water has initiated a major project to secure drinking water supply in the Greater Dublin Area by linking the Leixlip Water Treatment Plant with the Saggart Reservoirs. This will mean that there will be greater connectivity between water supplies so Irish Water can access different sources at different times of the year and during extreme weather events. This will help to ensure a more secure and resilient water supply for homes and businesses.

Investing €35 million in Lexlip to Saggart Water Main Project

We are investing over €35 million in the Leixlip to Saggart Water Main Project. The purpose of the project is to construct an interconnecting pipeline and pumping station which will increase the connectivity of water supplies within the Greater Dublin Area.

Project will include works in Rathcoole Park As part of this project a significant section of new pipeline will be laid through Rathcoole Park. Construction works in the park will commence on October 1st 2018 and are scheduled to be completed by Quarter 4 2019.

Ward and Burke Construction Ltd. is working on behalf of us to deliver this project.

Short term impacts while construction is underway We have worked with local residents and representatives to let them know of the unavoidable disruption and endeavoured to ensure that the works in the park have been designed to have the minimum impact on park users. However, some short term impacts are unavoidable whilst construction is underway, as the water main is to extend underneath current amenities in the park. Some sports pitches will be closed while the fitness stands and playground will remain open for the duration of the works. All existing entrances to the park will be maintained. To facilitate the work and to ensure public safety, extensive security fencing will be erected around the perimeter of the construction area. Signage will also be in place to advise park users on how to navigate their way through the park during the works.

Commenting on the project, William McKnight, Irish Water Engineer, said “The size and scale of this project is really significant and is of real strategic importance to Greater Dublin Area. Once completed, the new pipeline will increase Irish Water’s ability to distribute treated drinking water in the Greater Dublin Area and the surrounding region. This is a huge advantage to consumers and Irish Water, particularly during extreme weather events, likes the storms last winter or the drought this summer. It will increase the security of the water supply for homes and businesses alike.”

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Minister Eoghan Murphy announces €20 million in funding for 2018 for water services in rural Ireland • Funding will support works on group water schemes, group sewerage schemes and grants for private wells and septic tanks under the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme • Funding in 2019 will rise to €25 million Eoghan Murphy, T.D., the Minister for the Housing, Planning and Local Government, today (21 September 2018) announced grant supports totalling €20 million for 2018 for water services in rural areas. The funding will enable development and improvement work to be undertaken on group water schemes and group sewerage schemes in rural areas, and will provide grants for households to upgrade private wells and septic tanks. The funding is being provided by the Minister to local authorities under the ‘Multi-annual Rural Water Programme’, which supports capital infrastructure works on water services in rural areas.

Announcing the funding, Minister Murphy said: “High quality sustainable water services are a fundamental necessity to our lives and do not distinguish between rural or urban areas. This is why the Government continues to prioritise funding for the group water sector in parallel with the overall funding for water services generally. Throughout the length and breadth of rural Ireland infrastructural investment in water services is needed and is being provided by this Government.”

The funding is aimed at the improvement of water quality in existing group water schemes and the upgrading and water conservation works in group water scheme distribution networks. It will support new schemes to enable rural households to have a supply of good quality piped water for the first time. Funding is also being provided towards group sewerage schemes. The Rural Water Programme is made up of six different measures and funding being announced today is broken down across a series of initiatives. €4.33 million is being committed under ‘Measure 1’ for water treatment improvements for the group water sector. These improvements are associated with environmental and public health compliance.

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Under ‘Measure 2’ dealing with the enhancement of group water schemes,€5.6 million is being allocated.

This funding is provided to local authorities in the form of a block grant.

Under ‘Measure 3’ which is focused on rural development, €892,000 is being committed.

To support the transition of group water schemes to the public water and waste water sector under ‘Measure 4’, €1.57 million is allocated.

‘Measure 5’ funds innovation and research projects with an allocation of €14,000.

Under ‘Measure 6’,€3.5m is being committed to funding grants for private wells and septic tanks. €3.544 million has been earmarked as a reserve to fund projects in 2018 that were approved under the Programme, and that have not yet been initiated, to facilitate their future progression.

A table setting out a breakdown of these allocations by county is attached.

With €20 million being committed this year for the Rural Water Programme, Minister Murphy also welcomed increases in funding which will be in place from 2019 under the National Development Plan.

“Capital funding for the Rural Water Programme is now set to rise by €5 million to €25 million per annum in 2019. This enhanced level of investment will be maintained up to 2021. Including funding being provided this year, a total of €95 million has been secured for the period 2018 to 2021. This significant increase in funding for the Programme demonstrates the Government’s commitment to this valuable resource, but also reflects the need for additional investment in the rural water sector in order to sustain and improve the quality and availability of rural water services”, Minister Murphy said.

The day-to-day administration of the Rural Water Programme is the responsibility of local authorities which work in partnership with Group Water Schemes. The Minister acknowledged the importance of these partnership arrangements, saying, “the delivery of rural water services involves a unique partnership that meets a critical need for the people of rural Ireland. I want to recognise the vital role played by local government in the delivery of rural water services. I want to also to recognise the National Federation for Group Water Schemes, the representative organisation for the group waters sector, for the leadership role that they provided to that sector, and to recognise the work by individual members of group water schemes in serving their communities”.

Review of investment needs for Rural Water The current Multi-annual Rural Water Programme commenced in 2016 and is due to conclude this year, in 2018. A new programme will be put in place for the period 2019 to 2021. Earlier this year, in April 2018, Minister Murphy established a Working Group to conduct a review of the wider investment needs relating to rural water services. The review is focusing on the actions required to improve and sustain rural water services.

It is considering issues such as governance, supervision and monitoring of the sector, in addition to capital investment priorities and requirements across all elements of rural water services, including domestic wastewater treatment systems.

The establishment of the Working Group was undertaken in response to the recommendations of the Joint Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services in 2017. The terms of reference of the review provide for a two-strand approach. The first Strand of the review is considering the composition and distribution of funding for the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme from 2019 up to 2021. As part of this work, the Minister has committed to making improvements to the grants available to improve private wells and septic tanks. The second strand of the review will consider the more complex longer-focus issues surrounding the long-term future resourcing of the Rural Water Sector.

The Working Group will first produce a summary report on Strand 1 of its deliberations. This is expected to be submitted to the Minister within the coming month, in October 2018. It will outline the rationale for funding priorities for the next cycle of the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme. Work will then continue in examining the long term investment needs for rural water services and is expected to report in 2019. The outcomes and reports of the Working Group will inform future policy and investment decisions by the Minister and Government on rural water services.

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The organisations that are participating on the Working Group reflect the importance and wide ranging impact of the Rural Water Sector. In addition to the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Working Group comprises: the Department of Rural and Community Development, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Health Service Executive, the National Federation of Group Water Schemes and the County and City Management Association. To date it has met four times.

2018 Scheme/Project and Block Grant Allocations by Local Authority under the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme 2016–2018 Local Authority

Totals €

Carlow

75,000

Cavan

400,000

Clare

471,000

Cork

476,853

Donegal

200,350

Galway

944,000

Kerry

261,000

Kildare

126,000

Kilkenny

326,998

Laois

407,000

Leitrim

175,000

Limerick

763,000

Longford

75,000

Louth

235,000

Mayo

3,500,500

Meath

370,000

Monaghan

710,500

Offaly

780,900

Roscommon

856,000

Sligo

172,000

Tipperary

652,000

Waterford

90,000

Westmeath

120,500

Wexford

150,000

Wicklow

57,500

Grants for individual private wells and septic tank (all local authorities combined) Total – local authority allocations Administration Reserve for projects approved under the Programme for work to commence in 2018

3,500,000 €15,896,601 €550,000 €3,553,399

Overall Total

€20,000,000

Attached separately as Appendix 1 are details of allocations made in relation to individual schemes in each county.

The summary breakdown of allocations for each local authority under each measure that makes up the Programme is attached separately as Appendix 2.

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Murphy welcomes increase of €725m in Housing, Planning and Local Government funding (+22%) under Key Points: Housing €2.4Bn for 2019 €470m or 25% increase in housing budget for 2019 €60m additional funding in 2018 5,000 adults will be supported out of homelessness and family hubs will be expanded 10,000 new Council homes will be delivered in 2019 as a result of additional funding (2,100 new homes up on 2018) • Social housing needs of 27,400 households to be met in 2019 • Serviced Site fund for more affordable housing to be tripled to €310m • Extra money for RTB to enforce rent caps and new laws to protect renters • • • • •

Other areas • €1.2bn investment in water services, up €84m on 2018 • €185m contribution to the Local Government Fund, up €60m on 2018 Eoghan Murphy, T.D., Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government today welcomed the 22% increase in funding – some €725m – secured for his Department for next year under Budget 2019.

The Government is allocating exchequer funding of almost €2.3 billion to housing programmes. In addition, local authorities will fund a range of housing services to the value of almost €93 million from surplus Local Property Tax (LPT) receipts, bringing the total housing budget in 2019 to almost €2.4 billion.

In addition, a further €60m for 2018 delivery has been agreed meaning that Budget 2019 will therefore result in an additional €530m investment in housing.

This investment will see the housing needs of almost 27,400 households being met in 2019. Of the 27,400 housing supports, 10,000 will be Council Houses delivered through build, acquisition and long term leasing programmes. This is 2,100 more homes than will be delivered in 2018. The remaining supports will be delivered through HAP and RAS schemes.

Addressing Homelessness A critical focus of 2019 activity is on prevention and delivery of services for homelessness, and an allocation of €146 million (+€30m on 2018) will address the increased demand for emergency homeless services and also assist in supporting homeless households with long-term and sustainable housing solutions.

In 2019, it is envisaged that in excess of 5,000 adults will exit from homelessness into sustainable tenancies through the provision of council homes and the Housing Assistance Payment.

Housing First will continue to be rolled out, targeted at rough sleepers, and funding will also be provided to support the further roll out of the Family Hub programme.

Affordable Housing Budget 2019 provides for a trebling of the Fund to €310 million over the period to 2021, meaning that the minimum number of serviced site fund homes that will be facilitated over the lifetime of the Fund will be over 6,000.

In addition, the infrastructure investment per home under the Fund is being increased to €50,000, with the discount per market price of a house capped at 40%, to be realised through an equity share with the purchaser.

The scheme applies to new homes, and for single people earning up to €50,000 and couples earning up to €75,000.

An initial call for Local Authority sites under the Fund has recently been completed and a new call will issue shortly.

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The Rebuilding Ireland Affordable Home Loan was launched just 8 months ago on 1 February 2018. There has been great interest in the scheme to date. At the end of September the Housing Agency had assessed and recommended 1,134 loans for approval, totalling some 236 million euro. An assessment is currently underway that will consider some inconsistencies in decision making that have been identified, the need to potentially broaden the application of the scheme, as well as the possibility of extending the affordable loan to vacant homes requiring refurbishment.

Rental Sector Budget 2019 will see a 67% increase in exchequer funding to strengthen the powers of the Residential Tenancies Board and greater local authority inspections in the sector.

Some 70-80% of landlords only own one or two properties. We have to introduce measures that will incentivise landlords to remain as landlords.

Budget 2019 introduces the full removal of the restriction on the amount of interest that may be deducted by landlords in respect of loans used to purchase, improve or repair their residential property. The rate was due to be 100 per cent by 2021 but will now be effective from 1 January 2019.

We have introduced rent caps but these need to be strengthened quickly.

Legislation later this month will: • provide that any breach of Rent Caps can be sanctioned; • strengthen the powers of the Residential Tenancies Board (an additional €4.5 million will be provided in 2019 to support stronger RTB capacity and local authority inspections in the rented sector – this is a 67% increase in exchequer funding for this purpose); • further tighten the operation of any exemptions; • enhance rental data from RTB registrations to provide more transparency in rents being paid; • double the notice period for renters where a notice to quit is served after six months; • seek to extend rent caps to student accommodation.

The first Rent Pressure Zones are due to expire at the end of next year, and so Minister Murphy is considering an extension of this measure given continuing conditions in the rental sector.

As this is reviewed we will also examine other provisions around the operation of the Rent Caps in line with recent recommendations from the Residential Tenancies Board.

Other important housing delivery and supports We will continue fund other important housing supports and services in relation to homelessness, regeneration and programmes to upgrade existing housing (energy efficiency improvements, adaptation grants, housing for Travellers, pyrite, etc.).

Supports that will be funded through the increased resources under Budget 2019 include – • Funding of €13 million (+€1m on 2018) will support a range of Traveller specific accommodation schemes, including the provision of additional group housing; • €32 million (+€2m on 2018) will fund the remediation of a further 460 houses affected by pyrite; • A further 9,000 council homes will be improved through the energy efficiency programme in 2019 through funding of €25 million; • €23 million (+€1m on 2018) will support the continuation of the Mortgage to Rent Scheme and will allow for over 400 additional households to be supported under the scheme;

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• Exchequer funding for housing adaptation grants will be increased to €57 million (+€4m on 2018). This will enable up to 11,800 home adaptations to be undertaken facilitating people with disabilities and older people to continue to live in their own homes; • The National Regeneration programme will be supported through funding of almost €72 million (+€11m on 2018) targeting some of the country’s most disadvantaged communities; • Funding of €10 million (+€2.8m on 2018) will support the operational costs of the Housing Agency during 2019 and support the Agency in its expanded role in the delivery of housing services and supports; • A provision of €11.5 million will be made available in 2019 (+€4.6m on 2018) to support the expanded role and functions of the Residential Tenancies Board and to also expand the rental inspections programme by local authorities; • The Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund will be supported by an allocation of €41 million in 2019. This funding will go towards 30 key public infrastructure projects such as roads and bridges which will unlock land for housing development which would otherwise remain stagnant. Two projects are under construction in Dublin and Limerick with the remaining 28 projects to finish design and planning phases and reach construction stage in 2019. These projects are designed to release the delivery of up to 20,000 homes across the country, with more than 25% expected to be social or affordable homes.

• In relation to defective concrete blocks, an issue which has affected homeowners in Donegal and Mayo - the Government approved in principle this morning the development of a grant scheme of financial assistance to support affected homeowners to carry out the necessary remediation works to dwellings in those 2 counties that have been damaged. The putting in place of such a scheme will now be a key priority for the Department, with funding to be available from next year.

Other Areas of Activity Budget 2019 also means significant progress across the other areas of the Department. In total, next year will see an increase for the Water Services, Local Government and Planning Programmes, as well as Met Éireann, that amounts to over €250 million.

Water Services In the Water area, capital and current funding to Irish Water will amount to nearly €1.2 billion in 2019, an increase of €84 million on this year. There is an increase of €122 million for vital, accelerated capital investment in water and wastewater services as planned for under the National Development Plan 2018-27.

On the current side, the requirement for Irish Water is some €38 million below the 2018 provision. This reflects the continuing achievement of efficiencies on operational expenditure, which is driven through the Irish Water Business Plan and the economic regulatory process undertaken by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities.

There will also be capital funding of €23 million in 2019 (+€3m) for the next cycle of the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme which will run from 2019 to 2021. In addition, €6 million is being provided for Developer Provided Infrastructure to establish a funding programme to progressively resolve housing estates with problematic developer-provided water services infrastructure.

Local Government Turning to Local Government, 2019 will see a contribution from the Department’s Vote to the Local Government Fund of €185 million – an increase of €60 million on 2018. This will provide significant additional support to the local government sector in providing a range of essential services at local level, including assistance towards increased pay/pensions costs arising under national pay agreements and resources for certain local government initiatives across the country.

There will also be an increase of €2 million in capital investment in fire and emergency services, bringing the total to over €11 million in 2019.

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PRODUCT PRODUCTinfo info Increase safety with anti-skid solution

With the growing demand for an minimum 36 SRV (Slip/Skid Resistance Value) requirement from local authorities, Galco offers a range of solutions to treat your ductile iron cover or gratings.

– We perfectly understand that the need for pedestrian safety solutions has never been greater – says Alan Shanahan, Agency & Fabrication Manager at Galco. – We can treat any ductile iron cover or grating with a specially designed Anti-Skid material. We know that more and more companies are introducing colour coding for specific areas to make covers more visible and improve the identification of access hatches for the maintenance teams. Therefore our Anti-Skid Solution is available in 6 colours to aid identification. We also guarantee a minimum 45+ SVR when wet (much higher when dry).

Anti-Skid Solution Benefits • Reduces risk of slipping • Efficient identification system for access hatches • Longevity (8 times longer than paint) • 4 years guarantee (2m wheel passes) • Easy application • Installation or training available

GALCO.IE

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Grundfos help to rebuild Mosul D

elivering a sustainable water supply is not without its challenges, something we in Ireland have all become much more aware of in recent times, where we have seen a range of issues affect the continuous flow of water to our taps. This is especially true of this year where the exceptionally dry weather conditions have seen us suffer a drought, hosepipe bans, and water contamination issues which have all played a role in affecting our normal water supplies.

However, these problems pale into insignificance in comparison to the problems suffered by war-torn Mosul.

Having rarely been out of the news until the recent cessation of hostilities; valiant attempts are now underway to re-build it; after they suffered many years of constant bombardment and shelling. In fact, this, the second largest city in Iraq, saw some of the most violent clashes during the recent conflict that left this area virtually without any infrastructure or access to basic resources – including water.

In an attempt to re-establish some semblance of normality, as well as to give access to good quality water, Grundfos Pumps were approached by the United Nations Development Program – UNDP - who they worked with to help to design, specify and deliver a speedy, reliable pump solution.

Working to very tight deadlines, Grundfos provided a total of 50 pumps. These included 12 members of their high efficiency, 400kW family of submersible pumps that are being used to support a river intake pumping station. Additionally, a further 12 equally large HS split-case pumps were supplied to help to maintain the operation of highlift pumping station. The result is that Grundfos pumps are now supplying the requested scope to 50% of the 3 million citizens of this city, giving them back a stable and uninterrupted water supply.

Water is one commodity that is frequently taken for granted until the supply runs out. Being able to reestablish a reliable water supply to Mosul is going a long way to giving this city back a sense of normality and with it the hope of a more stable future.

For more information on the wide range of applications, including those involving clean water and wastewater applications, that Grundfos can support either globally or locally visit www.grundfos.ie

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CHAINSAW TRAINING cOURSE FOR UCD

Pictured is Eugene Doyle, FRS Training, Business Development Manager (far left) and Seamus Whelan, FRS Tutor and City and Guilds Assessor (far right) with four UCD forestry students that attended the FRS Training chainsaw course.

FRS Training completed a Basic Chainsaw Training Course for UCD students recently on a fully insured forestry site. The students were trained and assessed on three City and Guilds units with a successful outcome.

This qualification will be very helpful for the UCD students in their forestry career going forward. Not only did they learn the technical skill of using a chainsaw safely but also were given training in Hazzard Identification Risk Assessment (HIRA) in a forestry situation.

Pictured is Seamus Whelan, FRS Tutor and City & Guilds Assessor demonstrating the top sink cut.

The UCD students were trained and assessed on a fully insured suitable site sourced by FRS Training and the feedback received from UCD was very positive. All students enjoyed their course and felt they gained a wide range of experience.

Pictured is Seamus Whelan, FRS Tutor and City and Guilds Assessor and Eugene Doyle, FRS Training, Business Development Manager assessing t he training site before commencement of the UCD chainsaw course.

FRS Training provide fully insured training and assessment courses throughout the county.

Contact Eugene Doyle, Business Development Manager, FRS Training, Derryvale, Roscrea, Co.Tipperary on : 086 8117986 or edoyle@frstraining.com for course information.

Visit www.frstraining.com LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS

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Envirico are now offering LANTRA certified training in “Biosecurity - Halting the sprtead of invasive Non-Native Species” Contact our qualified ecologists now on 056 780177 • info@envirico.com • www.envirico.com

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