Local Authority News - Vol. 39. No. 1

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CONTENTS Vol 39. No. 1

FEATURES • SPECIFYING CONCRETE WEBSITE LAUNCHED

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• THREE SOCIAL HOUSING SITES TO RE-START CONSTRUCTION (DCC)

Published by:

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

• SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL TO PROGRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

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• GRANT’S MULTIPLEPACKAGE SOLUTIONS CONTINUES

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* SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL CHAMPIONS PROGRAMME 2019/20

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* SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL TO PROGRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

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* CORK CITY COUNCIL GAINS INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATION FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO REDUCING ITS CARBON FOOTPRINT 15

ISSN NO. 1393-0394 LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS is available FREE OF CHARGE and ON LINE 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, StateSponsored and Development Bodies and Agencies.

* LOCAL AUTHORITIES ENERGY CONSUMPTION 2018 (SEAI)

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* FACEBOOK DONATES €809K TO MEATH LIBRARY SERVICE FOR LAPTOP FOR LOAN INITIATIVE

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* PROGRESS MADE ON ‘PLANNING FOR THE RECOVERY OF SMALL RURAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE NEW EUROPEAN TRAIL GAZERS PROJECT. (TRAIL GZSERS) 22 * IRELAND’S POWER GENERATION AND INDUSTRIAL EMISSIONS DROP BY 8.7 PERCENT IN 2019 (EPA)

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REGULARS IRISH WATER UPDATES

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PRODUCT INFO

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CLASSIFIEDS

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Specifying Concrete Website Launched New website serves as a “one-stop-shop” by providing background and references to regulations, standards and guidance documents on concrete construction.

Website provides information on the key properties of concrete from the viewpoint of designer, builder and producer for consideration at specification and planning stage.

Stakeholder organisations in Irelandʼs concrete sector have launched a new website to assist all professionals involved in concrete specification with responsibility to ensure the quality of finished structures. The website provides background and references to regulations, standards and guidance documents relevant to concrete construction. In addition, it provides information on many key properties of concrete from the viewpoint of designer, builder and producer for consideration at specification and planning stage rather than later in the project.

(L-R): Tom Parlon - Construction Industry Federation (CIF), Irene Hayden - Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT), Caroline Quinn - President, Irish Concrete Federation (ICF), Eamon Booth - Chairman, Irish Concrete Society (ICS), Jim Mansfield - Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland (ACEI).

Specifyingconcrete.ie which was officially launched in the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, has been developed by a joint working group of the Irish Concrete Federation, Cement Manufacturers Ireland and the Irish Concrete Society.

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Speaking at the launch, Mr Eamon Booth, Chairman of the Irish Concrete Society said “Given the trend in the construction sector in recent years towards lean construction, value engineering and early contractor involvement, the concrete specification is often the opening statement in a three-way conversation between the designer, the contractor and the material supplier. Working out what is sustainable, economic, and feasible and meets the essential requirements of the design in each instance is a process best done collaboratively and this website will certainly assist in this process”. “The website will be of assistance to all professionals involved in concrete construction and will further the understanding of their individual and collective roles and responsibilities.”

Hosting the event, Caroline Quinn, President of the Irish Concrete Federation (ICF) said “the website has harnessed the input of many individuals and experts across the sector and ICF believes the website will be very beneficial for the specification of concrete.”

Aviva Stadium in Dublin

To visit the new website, please go to: https://www.specifyingconcrete.ie/ For further information, interview opportunities or pictures, please contact: Joanne Boylan, Irish Concrete Federation – joanne.boylan@irishconcrete.ie / 01 4640082

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Three Social Housing Sites To Re-Start Construction Dublin City Council has been granted permission by the Government for three of social housing developments to re-start construction. It had applied to allow 11 sites resume construction.

This could open the way for more councils to do the same as the Government considers allowing social housing developments which are near completion to resume construction..

A 59-unit development on St Agnes Avenue in Crumlin, a 43-unit development at Dolphin Park in Dublin 8, and a 29-unit development ar Poplar Row in Ballybough, Dublin 3 have been given the go ahead.

All three sites are being developed by Approved Housing Bodies (AHB).

The units in Crumlin and Dolphin Park are purpose-built developments for older people and is being developed

by Fold Ireland. This developments will deliver much needed quality apartments for older people on a well located and serviced site which includes a primary care facility and a proposed purpose built residential care facility.

Monami Construction are working on the residential development at Poplar Row, Ballybough, Dublin 3 for Oaklee Housing.

The project will consist of the construction of a 5 storey residential development comprising of 29 apartments with all associated enabling and external works.

Contractors are understood to be on site at the three locations to ensure social distancing is maintained.

The Government and industry stakeholders including the Construction Industry Federation have been in contact in recent days to examine ways in which the construction industry could get back up and running in a safe way while adhering to social distancing guidelines.

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At the 2019 National Ploughing Championships in Ballintrane, Fenagh Co. Carlow, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton T.D announced the Sustainable Development Goal Champions Programme 2019/20 and appointed 12 leaders from across all aspects of society to drive forward Ireland's progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGʼs).

The chosen champions are organisations who are leading by example in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

They will raise public awareness of the Goals and illustrate practical ways in which organisations and individuals can contribute to achieving the Goals.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are an ambitious set of targets, covering the social, economic and environmental requirements for a sustainable future. They cover policy areas such as poverty eradication, economic development, protection of the environment, access to health and education services, gender equality, peaceful societies and human rights.

The 2019/2020 Champions are:

• • • • • •

An Post Bord Iascaigh Mhara Carlow County Council ECO Unesco The GAA Irish Congress of Trade Unions

• • • • • •

Vodafone Irish Men's Sheds Musgrave National Women's Council of Ireland Smart Farming Union of Students of Ireland

Carlow County Council are committed within this Programme to work together with the 11 other partnering Champions and The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. Carlow County Council are primarily focusing on 6 SDGʼs; ; SDG1 No Poverty; SDG 6 Clean Water & Sanitation, SDG 7 Affordable & Clean Energy, SDG 11 Sustainable Cities & Communities, SDG 12 Responsible Consumption & Production and SDG 13 Climate Action.

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Member of; Water Jetting Association; Construction Line

Hydroclean Ltd provides the complete concrete demolition and repair package. Our specialist services include Hydro Demolition; Gunite Spraying; Resin Injection and Concrete Repair.

As well as work on the N25 New Ross Bypass; our previous and ongoing contracts include works on Bridges Harbours Hospitals LUAS lines, Railway Tunnels, Sewer Tunnels

Underground Carparks and Basements Wind Farms.

Water Treatment Tanks Universities

We work predominantly in Ireland and the UK.

Contact Us; Hydroclean Ltd 24C Moss Road, Ballymaguigan, Magherafelt, BT45 6LJ. Northern Ireland T: + 44 (0)28 79659734 Mob; + 44 07711818631 email: sales@hydroclean.Ltd.uk www.hydroclean.ltd.uk

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Since the announcement of the Programme, Carlow County Council has spoken at many events around Ireland to promote the SDGs including the National PPN Conference, Energy Performance Officers, Waste Management Regional Office, Communities Water Programme, Laudato Si and the CCMA.

A number of exciting events are ongoing including a Partnership with Carlow GAA and 3 Counties Energy Agency to complete high level energy audits of a number of GAA facilities in County Carlow which will identify energy usage and potential saving in energy use. Carlow County also works closely with the National Ploughing Association (NPA) and in 2019, segregated waste facilities were introduced at the Ploughing Championships. This is just one of many initiatives by the NPA to enhance sustainability of the Championships.

Carlow County Council acknowledge the support of many organisations in the promotion of the SDGs including Chambers Ireland, Smart Farming, National Federation of Group Water Schemes, Irish Water, Community Waters Office, SEAI, USI, PPN Network, The GAA, 3CEA, National Ploughing Association, The EPA, Waste Management Offices and Carlow IT.

To ensure that a long-term legacy of the programme remains, Carlow County Council have commenced the redevelopment of the former landfill site at Powerstown into a Biodiversity park, with future ambitions to make it an educational centre. Works have already commenced and planting over 4 hectares of the site and a range of insect and bee friendly plants and trees. Working with Carlow Beekeepers association, a number of hives have been installed and this will be used as an area to train beekeepers.

The Sustainable Development Goal Champions Programme, led by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, will continue to promote SDGs to ensure that the Goals and Targets are achieved by 2030.

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South Dublin County Council to Progress Affordable Housing Development South Dublin County Council has agreed to progress a new affordable housing development in Killinarden, Tallaght that could provide up to 500 new social, affordable and private homes.

The proposed mix for the Killinarden site is for 300 affordable homes with 100 private and with an extra 100 social homes provided. Affordable housing delivered on the site is expected to include 2-bed apartments/duplex, 3-bed houses/duplex and 4-bed houses.

The development will also include a new community centre and sports pavilion to meet the community and sporting needs of residents. This aspect of the development is seen as central to connecting the new and existing communities of the area.

The Killinarden site was the subject of an approved Council bid for support from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government under the Serviced Sites Fund for the delivery of an indicative 300 affordable homes. This fund provides a subsidy of up to â‚Ź50,000 per affordable home so as to deliver homes at 10% or more below market price.

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The projected cost maximum price for these affordable homes and the projected income levels are as follows : Type

Projected Maximum Price

Projected Income Levels

2 bed apartments/duplex

€212,500

€37,500

3 bed houses/duplex

€263,500

€47,000

4-bed houses

€289,000

€50,000

The final price and income levels will be subject to a competitive tender process supporting both the current estimated land value and projected building costs.

The Killinarden development was one site listed by the Council for the public when launching an expression of interest portal in September 2019. The launch of the portal followed the allocation of €18 million to South Dublin County Council by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government through the governmentʼs Serviced Sites Fund to support the development of three sites earmarked for the delivery of affordable homes.

The two other sites include plans for; • 135 homes in phase one of the approved Clonburris Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) scheme , • 100 homes in Rathcoole.

2,345 expressions of interest have been received through the portal to date with 1,515 people indicating a preference for Killinarden, of which 382 were first preferences with 401 second preferences and 732 third preferences.

The delivery of affordable homes is one aspect of South Dublin County Councilʼs ambitious housing programme aimed at delivering 4,500 homes over the lifetime of the current Council. Estimated to be worth over €1 billion, it is part of the Councilʼs commitment to the governmentʼs Rebuilding Ireland programme.

It is estimated that up to 1,500 of these new homes will be delivered as affordable and will help low-to-middle income earners purchase their own property. The final breakdown of the five mixed tenure developments will be decided based on the final master plans approved for each site.

South Dublin County Council will now look to appoint a joint venture partner to progress the Killinarden development and deliver much-needed homes to the area.

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Cork City Council gains international certification for its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint Cork City Council has achieved international certification for its commitment to energy efficiency within the organisation and therefore to reducing its carbon footprint.

The international ISO 50001 standard outlines international best practice in energy management within an organisation.

Cork City Councilʼs certification was achieved after an extensive audit of the organisationʼs energy management system.

The achievement assists Cork City Council in meeting national energy efficiency targets of a 33% improvement in energy efficiency by the end of this year and a 50% efficiency improvement by 2030.

Cork City Council achieved a 31.5% improvement in energy efficiency up to the end of 2018 compared to the baseline year of 2009. This puts Cork City Council 5% ahead of the target glide-path to meet its 2020 target.

It will also contribute to the implementation of the Cork City Councilʼs Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and the Sustainable Energy Climate Action Plan (SECAP).

Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr John Sheehan said: " Cork City Council has continually invested in energy efficiency projects over the years to help meet our national targets and reduce carbon emissions. One of the standout projects to date is the generation of electricity from landfill gas at the now closed Kinsale Road landfill site. This project commenced the production of green electricity in November 2015 and is expected to continue until 2022".

In November 2018, Cork City Council Chief Executive Ann Doherty approved the establishment of a cross-departmental Energy Team which played a central role in the effective implementation of the energy management system and paved the way to the certification.

Cork City Councilʼs Energy Performance Officer and Senior Engineer, Noel Murtagh said: ”The Energy Section of Cork City Council were very happy to work with SEAI and receive this accreditation which will help in the organisation achieving ambitious energy saving targets and assist in the implementation of the climate change adaptation strategy”.

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Local Authorities Energy Consumption 2018 Local authorities are currently at 25% energy efficiency improvement against a target of 33% By 2018, local authorities had saved 25%, or 503 GWh, since their baselines. This is equivalent to 118,000 tonnes of avoided CO2 emissions or â‚Ź33 million. Based on the latest data, the 33% target for 2020 is equivalent to 580 GWh.

Energy consumption 2018 %Energy Consumption

Fuel Mix 2018 % breakdown

Energy breakdown % breakdown

file:///Users/johndonnelly/Downloads/Elderly%20Shopping%20Hours.pdf Source: SEAI

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Energy end use %Energy Consumption

Energy saving projects % of total projects implemented

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w: www.seai.ie e: info@seai.ie t: 01 8082100

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Facebook donates €809k to Meath Library Service for Laptop for Loan Initiative Up to 900 laptops to help bridge the digital divide for fifth year students in Meath Today marks the arrival of the first set of laptops that will be loaned to fifth year and Leaving Cert applied students at Beaufort College in Navan, as part of the Meath County Council Library Service Laptops for Loan initiative funded by Facebook.

Both Facebook, with itʼs Clonee Data Centre in Meath, and the Meath County Council Library Service are committed to supporting students during this challenging time and are partnering to help students stay connected and continue their education from home.

Laptop to Loan Initiative Image Pictured – L-R Meath County Council Chief Executive Jackie Maguire, Senior Executive Librarian Maedhbh Rogan-McGann, Community Engagement Development Manager at Facebookʼs Clonee Data Centre Aoife Flynn, Meath County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr. Wayne Harding, County Librarian Ciaran Mangan and centre Beaufort College Navan Principal Angela Crowcock

The €809,100 donation will enable Meath Library Service to purchase nearly 900 laptops and wifi dongles which will support 50% of fifth year students and Leaving Certificate Applied students who do not have digital devices to continue their studies from home. The laptops will also be made available for the wider community to use when restrictions are lifted in the future.

The initiative aims to address the digital divide compounded by the coronavirus outbreak which has caused disproportionate hardship on those students who are disadvantaged or marginalised. The ʻLaptop for Loanʼ initiative has two phases. Phase 1 is aimed at students in Meath post-primary schools with 5th year students to be treated as a first priority. Phase 2 will see a laptop loan scheme rolled out to partner organisations, through the library service and to community groups for training purposes.

Meath County Council Library Service will provide the logistical support, procuring the laptops and delivering them directly to schools who will distribute them to those most affected by social and educational disadvantage.

The laptops will be loaned to students who need them for the duration of the crisis. Students with no access to broadband in their home will be able to borrow a wifi dongle. On return, the hard drives will be securely wiped and reset.

Speaking about the donation Jackie Maguire, Meath County Council Chief Execitive said “For students to actively engage in remote learning they need access to a suitable device, such as a laptop, and good quality Internet access in their homes. We are delighted that Beaufort College students in Navan will be the first recipients of the laptop loan scheme with other schools receiving laptops soon after.”

Beaufort College Principal Angela Crowcock added “Our 5th year and Leaving Certificate Applied 1 Groups are the priority. They are ending year 1 of their two year senior cycle and have missed a lot of course work.

There are 100 students in total and we are most grateful to be considered for the laptop loan initiative.”

Aoife Flynn, Community Engagement Development Manager at Facebookʼs Clonee Data Centre added, ʻMeath is our home and we want to support people, especially young people, in their education. We know this period of school closures has been enormously difficult for all school students, but particularly those who do not have access to a suitable device at home for remote learning. The Meath Library service proposal was extremely impressive, and the scale of the need in the Leaving Cert cycle is evident. We hope this will have a positive impact for students and the wider community in Meath.”

Although a recent Sign of the Times survey suggests that laptop ownership in Ireland is high at 70%, students are competing for access with other siblings and parents working from home. Conversations with a number of post-primary schools in Meath indicate that student ownership of laptops may be as low as 20%. For longer assignments, projects, and essays, students need to use a laptop/desktop computer as typing on a mobile phone keyboard is awkward and slow, while downloading PDFs and Word documents can also be problematic due to space issues on phones.

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Progress made on ʻplanning for the recovery of small rural communitiesʼ through the new European Trail Gazers Project.

Recently, partners from across the Atlantic Area met online to continue planning and making progress on the new Atlantic Area Trail Gazers Project, for which Donegal County Council are lead partners.

This project was set up to stimulate rural communities by linking strategic walking and recreational infrastructure in areas of rich natural, built and cultural heritage with the surrounding towns and villages. By working with key business, tourism and community stakeholders the project sets out to develop tailored marketing material and reach new niche markets; pilot bespoke Business to Customer initiatives based on key learning insights from trail visitors and sound business acumen; nurture community led plans for the long term sustainable future of each trail site and surrounding catchment areas.

The overall ambition of this project is to enhance visits to walks and recreational trails in the region and also provide incentives for these visitors to further explore, experience and enjoy all that the surrounding towns and villages have to offer.

Online meeting of Transnational Trail Gazers Partnership.

It is likely that COVID-19 will have an impact on the vitality of small rural communities; therefore maximising the return from strategic investments in tourism, walks and recreational infrastructure is key to planning the recovery of such rural communities across the Atlantic Area.

This project is learning from experts in the field who have years of experience in working on trail development and knowledge of what works and what doesnʼt in targeting niche walking and environmental tourists and ensuring that rural communities and infrastructure can grow sustainably to accommodate increases in visits without damaging the natural assets that visitors come to see. These partners have selected a wide variety of trails to test best practice methods in installing sensors and counters, in capturing and predicting footfall patterns to future proof trail maintenance and service plans; in surveying trail users to identify factors that would enhance their experience; in working with local business in developing Business to Customer initiatives to enhance return from visitors; in capturing digital imagery to showcase each site to new audiences; in developing community trail plans that are focused on niche experiences etc.

The 8 trails selected to test this project are in 'Chemin De Mémoires', in Bretagne, France; ʻVia Verde del Plazola' in Navarra, Spain; 'La Caldera de Taburienteʼ on the Canary Island of Las Palma; the 'Seven Hanging Valleys' in the Algarve, Portugal; 'Sacred Mountain' in Viana do Castelo, Northern Portugal; the ʻTaff Trailʼ in West Wales and the Valleys; the ʻKnocknarea/Killaspugbrone loop ʻ in Sligo and 'Inch Levelsʼ in Donegal. In addition Glasgow Caledonian University and Ulster University are providing important guidance on innovative technology and data capture solutions for each site.

Community input is vital to this project and to this end the partnership would like to ensure that key sectors in the rural community are represented on the ʻProject Advisory Groupsʼ in each of the regions. These groups will guide the development of a ʻshared visionʼ for each trail site that is based on evidence and data capture through the project and provide a range of shovel ready, community supported projects through practical trail plans that will ensure sustainable rural futures. The new Trail Gazers Website will be available this May and will allow any interested citizen to join an online community devoted to walks and trails in the Atlantic Area.

The partnership will work tirelessly over the next number of weeks to ensure that all necessary arrangements are in place that once the restrictions are lifted this important work can continue.

Trail Gazers project is co-financed by the Interreg Atlantic Area Programme through the European Regional Development Fund.

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Irelandʼs power generation and industrial emissions drop by 8.7 percent in 2019 •

In 2019, greenhouse gas emissions from Irish power generation and industrial companies fell by 8.7 per cent

•

Emissions decreased by 65 per cent from the ESB coal-fired plant at Moneypoint

•

The decrease in industrial emissions collectively is 3 per cent

•

Greenhouse gas emissions from aviation rose by 2.8 per cent compared to 2018

The EPA, as the Competent Authority in Ireland for the EU Emissions Trading System, has published details of greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, for companies in the system.

Emissions from Irish power generation and industrial companies in the EU Emission Allowance Trading System fell by 8.7 per cent (1.3 million tonnes) in 2019.

This mirrors a decrease of approximately 8.9 % across Europe.

The decrease in emissions is due to a significant drop in power generation emissions (a 12.3 per cent decrease) as a result of the strong presence of renewable energy - mainly wind generation - and less use of fossil fuels in our energy mix.

Emissions decreased by 65 per cent from the ESB coal-fired plant at Moneypoint, again mainly due to the availability of renewables.

Aside from power generation, the decrease in industrial emissions collectively is 3 per cent.

•

Cement industries recorded a 2 per cent decrease overall;

•

the dairy industry showed a 3 per cent decrease and

•

emissions from pharmachem industries also decreased by 0.4 per cent.

These decreases are welcome particularly as Ireland experienced strong economic growth in 2019.

Flights within the European Economic Area are also included in the EU Emissions Trading System. Aviation emissions from flights within the European Economic Area reported to Ireland rose by 2.8 per cent compared to 2018, to 12.77 million tonnes.

Dr Maria Martin, EPA Senior Manager, said: “This is the third year in a row that we have seen a fall in greenhouse gas emissions from participants in the EU Emissions Trading System, mainly power generation and industry. This reflects a positive move to lower use of fossil fuels in electricity generation and an increase in renewables. Aside from power generation, the reductions have been more modest in other sectors and attributable to a small number of players, with an increase recorded from aviation. We need to see consistent reductions in emissions across all sectors to reach our goal of a low-carbon economy.”

Further details about Emissions Trading are available on the EPA website. Further information about Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions is also available on our website and the EPA has developed this useful Infographic entitled Irelandʼs greenhouse gas emissions-sources and solutions.

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Successful completion of Ireland’s longest-ever underwater directional drill marks major milestone in Cork Lower Harbour project

Cork Lower Harbour project completes installation of two pipes underneath Lee estuary- the longest such directional drills in Ireland 25

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Irish Water, in partnership with Cork County Council, is working to end the decades-long practice of discharging raw sewage directly into Cork Lower Harbour with the Cork Lower Harbour Main Drainage Project.

Irish Water this week completed the installation of the sewer pipe in the second and final drilled bore extending for over 1km under the Lee Estuary between Cobh and Monkstown. This landmark engineering feat includes two of the longest such horizontal directional drills ever carried out in Ireland.

What is involved?

This successful installation completes the works under the estuary as part of the Cork Lower Harbour Project, creating the vital connection between Cobh and Monkstown. This connection will allow the raw sewage from Cobh town to be transferred for treatment, once work on the Cobh Town Networks contract are complete in 2021.

Déaglán Healy, Project Manager for Cork Lower Harbour Main Drainage Project, said “We are delighted to have successfully and safely completed the drill and pipe installation works for this contract. These works could not have been completed without the patience and cooperation of the local community, particularly in the challenging times we currently find ourselves in.

"Weʼd like to thank them for working with our contractor for the works, OʼConnor Utilities, who have worked tirelessly, in partnership with Long OʼDonnell, Nicholas OʼDwyer and our own Irish Water Project team, to ensure the safe completion of these works while minimising the impact on the local community as much as possible. They will now put these efforts into returning Monkstown Park to the community. ”

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What are the next steps?

Works to connect the sewer pipes under the estuary to the network on the Monkstown side is continuing on Glen Road and the reinstatement of Monkstown Park and basketball court will commence in the coming weeks. It is expected that these works will be completed in the Summer.

Work is also progressing well on the Cobh Sewer Networks, with approximately 2.4 kilometres of the total seven kilometres of sewer pipes laid to date as well as work started on the construction of two of the five pumping stations. When works in Cobh are complete in 2021, the raw sewage from Cobh town will be collected and transferred for treatment via the Cobh to Monkstown Estuary Crossing to Monkstown pumping station, from where it will be pumped to Shanbally Wastewater Treatment Plant for treatment before its safe discharge to the harbour.

Information on all these works is available from our project team at Corklowerharbour@water.ie and on our Cork Lower Harbour project page.

Why is this needed?

When construction on the Cork Lower Harbour Main Drainage Project commenced in 2015, the equivalent of 40,000 wheelie bins of raw sewage was discharging into the Harbour every day. We are now treating the equivalent of 30,000 of those 40,000 wheelie bins by completing the Shanbally Wastewater Treatment Plant and pipelines and pumping stations on the south side of the harbour so that wastewater from Ringaskiddy, Crosshaven, Carrigaline, Passage West and Monkstown is now being treated.

When all the Cork Lower Harbour Main Drainage works are complete in 2021, the project will, in compliance with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, treat all wastewater from the agglomerations of: •

Ringaskiddy-Crosshaven-Carrigaline

•

Ringaskiddy village

•

Passage West-Monkstown

•

Cobh town

This means 20,000 homes and businesses will be connected to the new scheme and that raw sewage from these areas will no longer be discharged into the harbour, positively impacting the local economy and greatly improving the amenity value of the Cork Lower Harbour for the surrounding communities.

Irish Water is working at this time, with our local authority partners, contractors and others to ensure that the safety and well-being of all staff is safeguarded and to ensure the continuity of supply of public drinking water and wastewater services.

More information For more information on the project, information days and works information please contact the project team at Corklowerharbour@water.ie or see our project page on our website at Cork Lower Harbour.

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T he stor y behind the challenges facing public water infr astr ucture during Engineer s Week revealed

Staff take part in a series of events to promote engineering during Engineers Week Irish Water staff in the North West region took part in a series of events to promote engineering during Engineers Week which took place from February 29 to March 6 2020.

Engineers Week is co-ordinated by Engineers Ireland to encourage students, their teachers and parents to explore the world of engineering and possibly consider a career in one of the varied engineering disciplines.

Irish Water employs over 800 staff across the country in a variety of disciplines including engineering, environment, science, health and safety, HR, finance, legal, planning and communications with more than 120 staff working out of the regional offices in Donegal, Cavan and Castlebar.

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Why is awareness needed?

Research commissioned by Irish Water and conducted by B&A indicates that 44 per cent of the Irish public admit they ʻknow nothing or not very muchʼ about the work carried out by Irish Water and almost 80 per cent of those surveyed say that they are interested in hearing about water services and ongoing and future plans.

In response to this, Irish Water revealed the full story behind the challenges facing the public water and wastewater network during Engineers Week by showing a new documentary, The Story of Water, to students across the region.

Irish Waterʼs Leakage Reduction team visited Saint Maryʼs National School, Glaslough in Co Monaghan where leakage reduction works are taking place nearby. They spoke to students and teachers about the size and scale of the problem facing Irish Water in terms of leakage and the benefits that will be realised as a result of the ongoing works in the area. The students watched the Story of Water chapter specifically about drinking water and there was a lively Q&A afterwards.

The Story of Water documentary forms part of what will be an on-going public information programme to help people understand the role that water plays in our daily lives, its value and complex lifecycle, and the process of getting water and wastewater through the public network. It includes insights on the increasing impact of climate change; why in a country like Ireland water conservation is becoming increasingly critical; how rain becomes drinking water and the damage that is caused when people flush inappropriate items down the toilet; and the work Irish Water is doing to protect the environment, fix the network and support economic development.

Our ongoing programmes The Story of Water is a key output of Irish Waterʼs ongoing programme of public education and awareness, which includes water conservation awareness campaigns, leakage awareness campaigns, a partnership with Clean Coasts on Think Before You Flush and sponsorship of the water theme of the An Taisce Green-Schools programme.

Commenting, Anthony Skeffington, Irish Waterʼs Asset Operations Manager said “We are delighted to be supporting Engineers Week 2020. It is a wonderful initiative to highlight the key role engineers play in our world and to encourage young people to consider exciting careers in engineering and related fields.

“The public are telling us that they want to understand more about their water and where it comes from and they have told us that they want us to do a better job of communicating with them. Consumers hear from us when we are managing outages and incidents affecting their water supply and when we have issues with sewage blockages or overflows, but we have never shared the wider story about public water and wastewater services in Ireland, the size and scale of the challenge and the technical expertise required across the industry, including our local authority partners, to deliver clean, safe drinking water for a modern growing economy.

There is massive investment going into water and wastewater infrastructure. It will take time to resolve the challenges and we are making progress.”

Who is featured in the documentary?

The Story of Water features international and local contributors including experts from the water industry, engineers, environmental scientists, ecologists, regular water users, sports people, local authority staff and Irish Water employees and Irish Waterʼs regulators.

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Prog ress with a str ate gicall y impor tant project to suppor t economic and social development in Leixlip

Strategically important wastewater project that will support economic and social development Irish Water is progressing with the Leixlip Transfer Pipeline, a strategically important wastewater project that will support economic and social development of Leixlip and the surrounding area.

This project involves the construction of 13km of new wastewater pipelines from Leixlip to Blanchardstown as well as the construction of a new wastewater pumping station in Leixlip Wastewater Treatment Plant. The majority of the works will be carried out on agricultural land, however some construction works will be necessary in St. Catherineʼs Park and Littlepace Park. Access to both parks will be maintained throughout these works and every effort will be made to minimise the impact of the construction works on those communities. All works in the parks will restricted to specific working areas and will be overseen by an ecology expert to ensure the biodiversity in the parks and surrounding areas are protected.

Survey works are expected to commence in the coming weeks. Construction works will follow on and are scheduled to start in early summer and will take approximately 24 months to complete.

What is involved?

BAM Civil limited is delivering these works on behalf of Irish Water. A Community Liaison Officer will be available for the duration of this project and will, with the Project team, continue to engage with the local community and all other stakeholders as the project progresses.

Speaking about the project, Olive Marshall, Irish Water said “Irish Water is committed to investing in the regionʼs wastewater infrastructure. The Leixlip Transfer Pipeline will support economic and social development in the area. The project represents a significant investment of €35 million by Irish Water to upgrade and safeguard the wastewater network serving Leixlip and the surrounding area. We will continue to keep residents, businesses and the wider community informed as the project progresses”

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Irish Defence Forces Officers visit Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants to learn about treatment processes and technology

Irish Water in partnership with Kildare County Council welcomed Engineer Young Officers from the Irish Defence Forces for a tour of Osberstown Wastewater Plant in Naas last week to learn about the wastewater treatment process. The Young Officers are currently completing a course in Military Engineering at the Defence Forces Training Centre in the Curragh and come from a variety of educational backgrounds, including civil, structural and mechanical engineering. On successful completion of the course they will have responsibility for roles including the design, construction, installation, operation and maintenance of water and wastewater systems when deployed abroad. The course also visited Irelandʼs largest water treatment plant at Ballymore Eustace in Bishopsland last week which was hosted by Dublin City Council.

Both tours were organised and supported by Irish Water providing the young officers with a first-hand opportunity to view the complex water treatment processes that enables Irish Water plants to produce 1.7 billion litres of clean drinking water every day and the complex treatment process needed to treat 1.6 billion litres of wastewater daily. Speaking about the visits, Morgan Cox, DBO Lead in Irish Waterʼs Asset Operations section stated: “Plant tours like these provide a valuable opportunity for engineering students and professionals an opportunity to see modern infrastructure in operation and to gain valuable insight into how engineers and technology can turn raw, untreated water into clean, safe drinking water and how to treat wastewater so it can be safely returned to the environment, thus completing the natural hydrological cycle for a sustainable future for all.”

At Osberstown Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Young Officers saw the impact of flushing inappropriate items with dozens of cotton bud sticks entering the wastewater treatment tanks that will need to be removed to prevent blockages. Blockages occur as a result of inappropriate items, such as wet wipes, cotton bud sticks, nappies and cotton wool pads, being flushed down the toilet instead of being put in the bin. Irish Water clear thousands of sewer blockages around the country annually which were caused by inappropriate items being flushed down the toilet. Placing a bin in the bathroom and disposing of sanitary items safely and appropriately has a huge positive impact on the network allowing it to function efficiently and effectively and on the environment.

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Major upgrades to project in Skibbereen will be a platform for social and economic development

Major upgrade works progressing in Skibbereen Irish Water, in partnership with Cork County Council, is progressing major upgrades to the water supply for over 7,000 people in and around the West Cork town of Skibbereen, as well as to the Drimoleague, Castledonovan, Schull, Leap and Bluid areas and Sherkin Island. The Skibbereen Regional Water Supply Scheme will replace local water supplies that are nearing the end of their lifespan with a new water supply scheme, which will include treatment plants, new pipelines and storage, providing the communities in these areas with a more secure, safe and robust water supply for the future.

Currently, both the Schull and Leap water supply areas are vulnerable to outages if there is a burst in the pipe network, or if there are issues at the treatment plants. There is no provision for storage of treated water on Sherkin Island, so the supply there is also vulnerable to outages. Sections of the existing pipeline in Drimoleague, Castledonovan, Schull, Leap and Bluid have also reached the end of their expected lifespan and require replacement.

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What is involved?

EPS Group Ltd., is completing this work on behalf of Irish Water and, having commenced in early 2019, has already completed over half of the new pipeline required, including 11kms between Ballyhilty Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and Drimoleague. Construction works are also underway at Ballyhilty WTP and upgrades to Lake Cross WTP are due to commence in Q2 2020. Works are also progressing on several new reservoirs at Drimoleague, Schull and Leap. These will increase the security of water supply to each area. A new reservoir in Sherkin Island is scheduled to commence in Q2 2020.

All of these works being delivered by EPS Group Ltd. will provide a much improved water supply to over 7,000 customers in the Skibbereen and surrounding areas. The project will allow for underperforming water treatment plants in Drimoleague, Skeagh and Ballinlough, to be decommissioned and replaced by a much more reliable and robust infrastructure. Existing water treatment plants at Ballyhilty and Lake Cross will be retained and upgraded as part of the project.

Water supplies to be removed from RAL The project will result in the removal of the Schull and Leap water supply schemes from the EPAʼs Remedial Action List (RAL) and ensure compliance of the new Skibbereen Regional Water Supply Scheme with current drinking water regulations. Irish Water is investing €28 million in this project and construction works are due to be complete by the end of 2020.

“This project will provide a robust and reliable water supply to Skibbereen and the surrounding areas in West Cork and provide a platform for social and economic development of these areas well into the future,” said Sean Twohig, Regional Infrastructure Lead with Irish Water.

“We already have much of the work on this project complete and would like to thank the local communities for their cooperation. We would also like to thank our partners Cork County Council, EPS Group and RPS. We will continue to engage with the local communities across the regional scheme, as we deliver the remainder of the project in Drimoleague, Schull Castledonovan, Leap, Bluid, Skeagh, Ballinlough and Skerkin Island.”

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Upgrade to largest wastewater pumping station in the country, located at Ringsend in Dublin

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