Local Authority News - Vol. 39 No. 6

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• Waterford City Centre Regeneration • Reimagining a City - The Pedestrianisation of 17 Streets in Cork City • Wexford County Council achieves the ISO 50001 standard for Energy Management • First sod turned on Fingal County Council’s Affordable Housing Scheme at Dun Emer, Lusk

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CONTENTS Vol 39. No. 6

FEATURES

Published by:

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

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.

• WATERFORD CITY CENTRE REGENERATION

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• PUBLIC SPACES IN YOUR TOWN

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• FOR PUBLIC REALM & URBAN REGENERATION PROJECTS (EJ)

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• REIMAGINING A CITY THE PEDESTRIANISATION OF 17 STREETS IN CORK CITY 11 • CHEMICAL - FREE WEED CONTROL (SHAFFREY LANDSCAPING)

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• WEXFORD COUNTY COUNCIL ACHIEVES THE ISO 50001 STANDARD FOR ENERGY MANAGEMENT

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• FIREBIRD FUTURE PROOFING SCHOOLS FOR GENERATIONS TO COME

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• FIRST SOD TURNED ON FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL’S AFFORDABLE HOUSING SCHEME AT DUN EMER, LUSK 21 • GRANT’S INTEGRATED HEATING PACKAGES ENSURE EXCELLENT EFFICIENCY IN NEW BUILD PROPERTIES 24 • SPORTS & RECREATION NEW ABILITY SWING IN CABINTEELY PARK(DLR)

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REGULARS DEPARTMENT BRIEFS

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IRISH WATER UPDATES

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CLASSFIEDS

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Waterford City Centre Regeneration aterford is the principal and largest urban centre in Irelandʼs south-east and the fifth largest city in the State. Project Ireland 2040 National Planning Framework (NPF) sets out a number of key growth enablers for Waterford City which include the delivery of the North Quays regeneration project, public realm and urban amenity projects, focused on streets and public spaces in the city centre; provision of Citywide public transport and strategic cycleway networks; and the extension of the Waterford greenway to link WIT to the City Centre. When delivered these growth enablers will build on the already considerable work undertaken by the City and County Council in reimagining the city centre.

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In May 2020, WCCC collaborated with WIT in proposing a project to the URDF (Urban Regeneration Development Fund) which has now attracted nearly 28M of government funding into the heart of Waterford. Our proposal is focussed on transforming the historic city centre.

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The proposal brings together a number of partners with match funding including the Dept of the Housing, Local Government & Heritage, the NTA, WIT and the private sector. WCCC will contribute nearly 2.5M. Nearly E50 M of total investment will be generated.

Michael Quinn, Director of Services, Economic Development & Planning at WCCC said that “Waterford stands at a step change in its development which will act to position the City as a model for people centred, environmentally sustainable urban design. The City is continually changing and can be the agent of learning and progress through a coming together of artistic creativity, leading edge technology and high quality architecture. We believe that Waterford can be an exemplar micro city, and it has already the highest proportion of upgraded public realm relative to its size anywhere in the country. With the completion of the new bridge at the Clock Tower, the retail spine will reach an unprecedented 1km of pedestrian friendly high quality public realm. Building on its reputation for high quality design, engineering and innovation, this proposal will build in resilience to combat vulnerability to shifts in global economic trends, be sustainable into future & attract private investment”.

Vice President for Strategy at WIT, Dr Richard Hayes, said: "WIT greatly welcomes the funding awarded through the URDF and looks forward to playing its part in the various projects. The funding endorses very strongly the proposition that Waterford can be Ireland's Innovation Capital and in the shape of the Smart Cities hub and the Creative Industries Incubation Lab, with which WIT is most closely associated, we see great additions to the infrastructure in the city to create high-tech, high-value employment and economic activity."

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The proposal comprises 22 diverse projects including parks and gardens, new and upgraded streets, mixed tenure residential, studio and galleries, co-working spaces, innovation hubs and community facilities.

Through a series of thoughtful interventions, the project will deliver a thriving and sustainable city centre, with healthy, happy and more inclusive communities. The project will fill voids in the existing urban form, developing underutilised, vacant and derelict properties, vacant sites and unlock back lands. It will build on the significant work already completed in the Viking Triangle, Cultural Quarter and city centre public realm. Over the last 4 years, WCCC has secured nearly 150M under the Project Ireland 2040.

Rupert Maddock, Senior Architect, said “Our vision is to return to a people centric city based on its ancient streets and spaces, to become ʻThe most liveable city in Irelandʼ, one where people are empowered to have a stake in their city and local community. The city core will be returned to its previous role as an environment in which to live, work and play, like the city used to be for 100ʼs of years. However, the proposal does not mark a nostalgic effort to recover what has been lost from Waterfordʼs past but for it to be re-imagined as a 15 minute vibrant city where all your needs including shopping, work, and amenities all in close proximity. A sustainable, dynamic and resourceful City where people will seek to live, work, invest, experience and socialize, as a matter of choice. The City evolved and exists to support its citizens, and as Irelandʼs oldest city we have drawn on the story of our past to help shape our future”.

Waterford will soon be the centre of a green transformation connecting the City to its region by a network of 3 major greenways. The city centre will be terminus of these greenways, a ʻWalkableʼ city at the heart of a sustainable network. The public realm is the ʻliving roomʼ of the City, shared by all and open to a dynamic range of uses including ease of mobility, events and creative displays.

The project aims to create a resilient economy based on innovation, creativity and a knowledge intensive base that can empower its citizens. Smart Cities and Communities initiatives involves exploiting the most advanced communication technologies—in particular in the areas of energy, transport and ICT - to support added-value services for the city, community and citizen. The City will position itself as a centre for experimentation in new forms of business and enterprise, retail, creative activity, community, working and living.

This development will mobilise the citizenry in support of innovative, transformational change, the City becomes a test bed for new technologies. The Cultural Quarter, as the intersection of creativity and technology, will encourage the best of both worlds working together and mutually

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supporting one another. The public realm is conceived of as an open creative space, a kind of office without walls.

We are concentrating our projects on two of the cityʼs quarters: the Viking Triangle and Cultural Quarter.

Substantial work has already been carried out in the Viking Triangle and the Cultural Quarter is at an earlier stage of its evolution. The city retail spine which separates these two quarters will benefit by their economic revival.

All projects are bound together and given meaning by improved public realm. Exciting schemes for OʼConnell Street and the Beach Tower anchor the Cultural Quarter projects. Likewise, a new Friary Square and linear park along Spring Garden Alley form the basis for the Viking Triangle projects. A lost street, ʻJenkins Laneʼ, will be re-instated and a major new plaza will bring life back to the south quays. In addition, pocket parks will orient activity at the scale of the fine urban grain.

The projects are mixed use and create new nodes. In the Cultural Quarter, a cluster around the proposed Beach Tower Plaza and OʼConnell St. brings smart data alongside the Chamber of Commerce, new artisan studios, workshops and education spaces adjacent to Garter Lane Art Centre. Not to forget the side streets, an art studio with residential accommodation, digital co-working studios and a pocket park will be created. Finally, around Hanover Street, an amalgam of 3rd level education and incubation spaces is proposed to catalyse jobs.

In the Viking Triangle, the Parade Quay development and the Central Arts/OPW buildings ring Friary Square. These bring back housing and give improved commercial at street level. Offices will provide accommodation for adjacent museums and an upgraded performing arts building will interlock with the existing Theatre Royal. Finally, a new linear park along Spring Garden Alley reveals the medieval city wall and connects 3 projects that build on the previous public realm improvement to the historic Lady Lane. These projects aim to provide mixed tenure residential accommodation and support what is one of the few existing residential communities in the city centre along Spring Garden Alley.

Some individual projects: • Upgraded of OʼConnell St public realm, the Beach Tower and Hanover St hub.

• Works to the Granary which will better address adjacent streets.

• Refurbishment of 3 and 4 Georges St to form the GOVLAB, Smart City HQ in collaboration with WIT • No 7 Tomas Street to be a gallery, artist in residence and residential.

• 16,18 Barker Place to be a ground community space.

• Re-imagining of Jenkins Lane • A gateway plaza on the south quays.

• Friary Square and the development of residential and commercial units on Parade Quay.

• Transformation of Spring Garden Alley as an extension to the Viking triangle.

• Re-purpose of the former Menʼs Hostel.

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PUBLIC SPACES in your town Public Spaces has developed over the last 15 years, based in Bray, we not only service the Irish domestic market we also have taken our services to the UK. We are the perfect partner for a designer of any open space as we have partners all over Europe and can bring their abilities to the table at any time to help bring a project to fruition.

The Covid pandemic has brought to the surface the importance of open spaces and the development of such areas in our towns. This does not only mean catering such as coffee etc but also nice places to meet, to chat and bring the population of the town together again following months of isolation.

We are working with several local authorities in ‘’public eating areas’’ and an extension to the pavement called ‘Parklets’. These are portable areas that can be placed in a parking area alongside a pavement and normally contain seating, tables and planters. They are bringing a ‘green area’ right to the middle of our towns and a pleasant place to meet your friends and have a chat. The designs are normally simple and practical and can take up two car parking spaces beside a café or restaurant extending their serving area out into the open and allowing them to serve you in a safe and secure manner while we are still in a position of having to keep ourselves apart from each other.

We offer a huge variety of street furniture most of which you will find on our web page. We supply stone, steel, hardwood timber and even corten steel furniture and are particularly talented at bespoke projects.

Landscape designers and architects can come to us with their concepts, and we will assist them to bring their designs to reality. At present we are working on the exciting Google HQ project in Dublin with BAM construction. In this we have sourced a unique new material called EPS and with this material have formed a large island 15 metres long and 6 metres wide. In the centre, a large tree will be planted and all around the structure people can sit at different levels and enjoy the surrounding of the docklands.

In the UK we are one of the largest suppliers of seating in the London area. Our Montseny chair being particularly popular and even more so due to Covid restrictions. We supplied last year the longest selfsupporting bench in London to an area in Clapham. It is 26 metres long and all on a curve.

With a stainless-steel frame and hard wood seating slats the people of Clapham will be able to enjoy this bench for many years.

We recently installed bespoke planters and seating at Park House on the North Circular Road in Dublin. This was manufactured to architects strict instructions.

Let us work with you and make the changes in your area to open public areas for all to enjoy.

Contact us at : Email: sales@public spaces.eu • Phone: 01 2864995 Web page www.publicspaces.eu

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For Public Realm & Urban Regeneration projects, EN124:2015 reinforces the importance of best-in-class access covers, and gives peace of mind to specifiers and end users A substantial revision of the performance standard for manhole covers & gully gratings in the shape of EN 124:2015 now provides a clear framework for manufacturers and project designers to adhere for infrastructure access solutions.

Superseding EN 124:1994, this European Standard is now broken down into six Parts. Part 1 contains general design and performance requirements. Parts 2-6 address performance requirements for manhole tops and gully tops made of specific materials. Part 2 deals with Ductile iron, Part 3 with Steel and Part 5 refers to Composite covers. Now for the first time a standard exists governing both galvanised and composite covers & frames in line with traditional ductile iron.

To help you identify whether proposed products comply fully with the standard, the following markings are mandatory and must be a permanent, integral part of the cover and frame: 1.

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Name of the European Standard e.g EN 124-5 Appropriate class (B125) Name and/or identification mark of the manufacturer Factory of manufacturer which may be in code Date or week and year of manufacture (coded or not coded)

An absence of conformance to the highest European standards could potentially pose a safety risk to operators or the general public.

If you are interested in more information on EN 124:2015 or guidance on specifying access covers for your projects, we can organise an Engineers Ireland CPD approved Webinar for your organisation.

Contact the Business Development Team on 057 91 23100 for more information.

Follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date with the latest news from EJ in Ireland.

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Reimagining a City - The Pedestrianisation of 17 Streets in Cork City

Cork City Council is continuing to implement a programme of measures to support the local economy and to support both residents and the public in living and working in the city centre and town centres while we all learn to live with this Pandemic and as Government direction allows in response to the various levels of the Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19.

In cities across Europe there is emerging evidence of the reallocation of additional road space to walking and cycling in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic is increasingly being pursued as the best available option to safely facilitate the movement of a considerable volume of people to work, education and amenities. While this approach protects health and well - being, all interventions have been fully considered across all stakeholder interest groups.

A number of streets in Cork City were temporarily pedestrianised last summer (2020) as part of the “Reimagining Cork City”

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COVID response programme of activities. The aim of this project was to facilitate social distancing and outdoor dining as well supporting businesses and creating an appropriately COVID compliant “buzz” around the City following a period of lockdown. Following an overwhelmingly positive reaction to this pilot initiative and following a series of extensive public consultations, it was agreed to permanently pedestrianise 17 of these

streets as of and from January 1, 2021. In order to support the commercial activities in this pedestrianised core area, some of these streets are available for deliveries to take place between 4:00am and 9:30am/11:00am (depending on the individual street).

The map above shows the spatial relationships between that new and existing street pedestrianisations in Cork City Centre. Projects to deliver on the Cityʼs clear and coherent strategic plan for a new and vibrant City centre are now well under way. The ultimate goal is to create a vibrant urban zone that is recognised as a destination and a attractive for people to visit.

In addition to pedestrianisations the various other initiatives included in this overarching plan include: 1.

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Greening of the City Moss walls to improve air quality Clean air zones Urban parklets Enhanced (and free) street furniture licenses for businesses (2020 & 2021) Improved sustainable transport measures Footpath buildouts creating more space on footpath for reuse Additional cycle lanes Cycle lane protection Bike parking Reprioritisation of street uses

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To enhance the street surfaces of the newly pedestrianised streets, making them more pleasant and safer for residents, shoppers and diners, the City Council has resurfaced all of these streets with a special tarmac surface which is more suitable for pedestrian uses due to its fine grained composition.

A very significant branding initiative was also undertaken. The purpose of this branding exercise was to introduce the reimagination initiatives in a coherent and friendly manner. All of the various initiatives listed above were all tied together under this umbrella brand. This facilitated understanding of how all if the interventions linked together to compliment one another.

The Cork City spirit is nothing if not resilient. Just over a century ago Cork faced down the devastation of the Burning of Cork and now the City is again ready to rise from the ashes of Covid19, with new and innovative ways of living, working and doing business, reimagining our cityʼs infrastructure.

Cork City Council is committed to supporting the local economy, businesses, residents and visitors to Cork City as the City reopens and onward into the post-pandemic future.

The permanent pedestrianisation of these streets is a measure that accelerates our long-term vision of creating sustainable urban growth. All of these works being undertaken by Cork City Council are aimed at making the city a safe, inclusive and pleasant place for residents, shoppers & visitors and to support local business. Encouraging people to live in, shop in, recreate in and visit Cork City is of critical importance to the City going forward and to the future vitality of the City as an attractive and desirable place to be.

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SHAFFREY LAND CHEMICAL CHEMICAL -- FREE FREE WEED WEED CONTROL CONTROL Shaffrey Landscaping have recently invested in a Foamstream L12 Machine, the leading chemical-free solution for controlling unwanted vegetation including weeds, moss and algae. Its patented low-pressure process combines hot water and a biodegradable foam, made from natural plant oils and sugars, making it safe for use around people, animals and delicate environments.

With our lance sets, it can also be used for chewing gum removal, power washing and general sanitisation jobs too, making it a highly effective, all-round, green space and urban management system.

How it Works The active ingredient in the process is the heat in the hot water. The foam simply acts as an insulating blanket over the top of the hot water, ensuring heat is not lost to the atmosphere.

Foamstream is applied to vegetation at low pressure and can be used in all weathers.

Once it hits the vegetation and covers it, the foam creates a thermal blanket over the vegetation and the water

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NDSCAPING Why it is so effective The foam stops the heat from the hot water escaping to the atmosphere, trapping it and holding it directly on the plant for an extended period of time. This allows it to work in the most effective way possible. The heat penetrates the leafʼs waxy outer layer, travels down the stem, and into the roots – killing or severely damaging the plant, causing it to die.

Before

After

The longer a plant is kept in the kill zone (temperatures above 57 ˚ C) the more effective the heat will be at killing the plant. By providing a layer of insulation on top of the water, Foamstream allows the heat in the hot water to be held within the kill zone for longer than any other alternative thermal method.

In addition to killing the plant, Foamstream also sterilises surrounding seeds and spores that havenʼt yet germinated, helping reduce future weed growth

It can be safely used in public spaces, on utility sites, or in any space which requires an eco-friendly method of treatment, and poses no threat to people, animals, the environment or the operator.

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Wexford County Council achieves the ISO 50001 standard for Energy Management Councillor Ger Carthy, Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council has formally announced that Wexford County Council, supported by 3 Counties Energy Agency has achieved the globally recognised international energy management standard, ISO 50001, becoming more advanced in optimising their energy efficiency.

The ISO 50001 standard was developed to support public and private sector organisations committed to efficient energy management providing the most robust framework for achieving cost and carbon emission reductions.

Councillor Ger Carthy, Cathaoirleach, Wexford County Council said ʻWe are very proud to achieve this standard. In achieving this international accreditation energy performance improvement is on the top of the agenda for the organisation and I commend all involved for the great work done to date. Wexford County Council has committed to effective energy management and will meet 2020 public sector energy efficiency targets and has improved performance by 29% in 2019 when compared to the 2009 baseline period. The ISO50001 certification will be the basis of formulating a pathway to reach energy efficiency and carbon target for 2030 and beyondʼ.

Tom Enright, Chief Executive of Wexford County Council said ʻachieving this standard is a significant accomplishment given the diversity of services that local authorities offer. We are focused and fully committed to continuously improving energy performance in all our operations. This year will see the completion of an extensive public lighting upgrade resulting in significant energy and operational costs savings. Upon completion approximately 97% of the public lights within the county will have been converted to high efficiency LED technology.ʼ Carolyne Godkin, Director of Services Wexford County Council paid tribute to the work undertaken by the cross-departmental energy team and the 3 Counties Energy Agency. She stated that new energy targets facing the Local Authority for 2030 will be challenging but ISO 50001 provides us with a systematic approach to achieve continuous improvement in terms of energy performance.ʼ Ray Murphy, Acting Chief Fire Officer with Wexford County Council who has led the certification programme stated that ʻThere is a program of works about to commence that has been recently approved with funding support under SEAIʼs Better Energy Communities programme. This will focus retrofitting several of our facilities such as District Offices, Libraries and Fire stations with a range of measures including insulation upgrades, fabric improvements, lighting upgrades and Solar PV. In terms of transport Wexford County Council has started to introduce Electric Vehicles where there are currently 4 electric vans and 3 forklifts within the fleet.ʼ Sarah Kent, 3 Counties Energy Agency (3CEA) stated that ʻWe are very proud that our project partner, Wexford County Council is ISO 50001 accredited for its Energy Management System. It demonstrates that Wexford County Council is taking a systematic and logical approach in its responsibility to continually improve energy management as part of Climate Action goals and commitmentsʼ.

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Firebird Future Proofing Schools For Generations to Come Itʼs that time of year when schools are looking to plan and prioritise upgrade works to take place during the summer break. This is especially the case this year with the pandemic, as schools have had a higher demand for heating to try and keep their students warm while windows remain open for ventilation.

Necessity and cost-efficiency are always the key drivers in decisionmaking but there is a growing trend to ensure sustainability and future proofing is as high up on the agenda.

Firebird, Irelandʼs leading suppliers of high performance solutions for the domestic and commercial heating market, has seen a growing trend of schools ensuring their new boiler systems not only stand the test of time but that they have the flexibility to adapt to future technologies.

“With many schools built in the 70ʼs and 80ʼs, their boilers are starting to fail or are requiring more maintenance. The boilers are naturally reaching the end of their life cycle. Schools cannot afford these boilers to fail because of the impact this will have on the schoolʼs operations, students, staff, finances etc.,” explained Paul McGuckin, technical manager from Firebird.

“Schools need boilers with higher capabilities due to their demand and reliability is also hugely important. As the only supplier in Ireland and the UK with a highly efficient condensing boiler range of up to 100kW, customers are choosing Firebirdʼs solutions to meet their needs not only for our product capability but also for our advanced boiler technology.”

With a clear focus on renewables and sustainability, Firebird has dedicated significant resources and invested heavily in developing products with increased fuel efficiency, reduced emissions and products that use more renewable and sustainable fuel sources.

The requirements of the Energy Related Products (ErP) directive introduced within the last 5 years, which includes fossil fuel boilers between 70kW and 400kW rated output, has had a significant impact on the commercial boiler market.

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This was a massive shake up for the industry with heating and efficiency bands tightened for both new and existing buildings. More small-to-medium sized installation projects now effectively require a condensing boiler solution.

Primary schools in Cavan and Sligo are recent examples of those that have switched to Firebird boilers. In projects delivered in less than a fortnight, two 100kW condensing boilers were fitted in each school to meet their capability requirements.

“These boilers boast high efficiency and low NOx (Nitrogen Oxide) emissions,” Paul continued. “Typically, with these older school buildings the heat loss can be greater, however the schools can achieve lower capital costs with our boilers as they reach a set point temperature up to three times faster than their original cast iron boilers to deliver further efficiency and cost savings.”

According to Paul, another key selling point for Firebird was how these boilers are fossil fuel free ready.

“The schools were very impressed to know and understand how the boilers are also future-proofed for HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), an advanced fossil-free fuel derived from 100% renewable waste streams which will enable them to adapt with little or no additional costs to using HVO as an alternative fuel source in the not so distant future,” Paul stated.

“This is naturally where the sector will evolve over the coming years. We are already very active in this space trialling and indeed using HVO at Firebirdʼs own manufacturing sites in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and in the UK. It wonʼt be long before Ireland follows many other European countries to introduce HVO as an alternative, renewable, low-cost fuel source.”

Installer Noel Cusack from Noel Cusack Mechanical from Cavan who regularly works with Firebirdʼs products explained how customers are looking more to the future with their investment in new heating solutions.

“For schools, changing their boiler happens once in a generation,” Paul explained. “Making the right decision and choosing the right product, not just based on cost is crucial. We know sustainability is where the sector is headed. Itʼs really encouraging to see customers such as schools using the need and time to change their decades-old boilers with more innovative, future-proofed and smart systems that will save them in every way going forward.”

To learn more about Firebird home heating solutions visit www.firebird.ie or contact Firebird Heating Solutions: Tel: 026 45253 Email: info@firebird.ie

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First sod turned on Fingal County Councilʼs Affordable Housing Scheme at Dun Emer, Lusk Fingal County Councilʼs Affordable Housing Scheme at Dun Emer in Lusk took a major step forward today when the first sod was turned on the construction site by the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr David Healy; the Deputy Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Robert OʼDonoghue; and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh OʼBrien, TD.

Deputy Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Robert OʼDonoghue; and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh OʼBrien, TD and Mayor of Fingal, Cllr David Healy;

The Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, and the Chief Executive of Ó Cualann Cohousing Alliance, Hugh Brennan, were also present at the ceremony which signals the next phase of the 51 home project.

Construction on 39 affordable homes and 12 social homes will commence in a couple of weeks once site works are completed and applications for the Dun Emer Affordable Home Purchase Scheme are being accepted through an online portal up until 5pm on May 31.

Prices will start from €166,000 for the two-bedroom apartments; from €206,000 for the three-bedroom duplexes; from €250,000 for the three-bedroom terraced; and from €258,000 for the three-bedroom semidetached homes.

The Application Portal opened on May 4 and there has been a steady stream of applications for the affordable homes. The allocation process will be based on the Scheme of Priority with each application being processed on the basis of its eligibility.

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Applications for the Dun Emer Affordable Home Purchase Scheme can be made via https://affordablehousing.fingal.ie and an explanatory video outlining the application process is available at http://www.fingal.ie/affordablehousing The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr David Healy, said: “Affordable housing is an important element in Fingalʼs efforts to tackle the housing crisis and ensure that the housing needs of our communities are met. The application figures show clearly there is a demand for affordable housing.”

Chief Executive of Ó Cualann Cohousing Alliance, Hugh Brennan, Deputy Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Robert OʼDonoghue, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh OʼBrien, TD, Mayor of Fingal, Cllr David Healy, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly.

Minister Darragh OʼBrien said: “I really want to commend Fingal County Council on bringing this project, which will be the first affordable purchase housing scheme in the county in 11 years, to fruition. They are also continuing in their plans to develop more affordable housing across North County Dublin with the support of my Department.

“The Serviced Sites Fund is just one of a number of affordability measures provided by my Department to make homes more affordable. We are simultaneously progressing the Affordable Housing Bill and the Land Development Agency Bill both of which will result in more affordable homes. Schemes such as this one here in Dun Emer are exactly what we want to see replicated across the country, delivering a mix of homes, built to very high standard, at affordable prices,” added Minister OʼBrien.

The Deputy Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Robert OʼDonoghue, who is also Chair of the Housing Strategic Policy Committee, said: “The scheme contributes to Fingal County Councilʼs aim to create and sustain communities with a healthy mix of tenure and housing types gives people a realistic opportunity to own their own home.”

The Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, said: “Dun Emer is the first of several social and affordable housing projects we are working on and we look forward to progressing our plans for Church Fields in Dublin 15, Cappagh in Dublin 11, Hayestown in Rush, Ballymastone in Donabate, and Hacketstown in Skerries where we are working with the Land Development Agency.”

Hugh Brennan, CEO Ó Cualann Cohousing Alliance, said: “Ó Cualann Cohousing Alliance welcomes the opportunity to work with Fingal County Council on this important scheme and we do not underestimate the challenges of delivering 39 top quality affordable homes and 12 social homes for the people of Fingal during a pandemic. We are confident that with the continued support from Fingal County Council and all the stakeholders we will do just that, and, in under two years, there will be a thriving community in Dun Emer, Lusk, County Dublin.”

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Grantʼs integrated heating packages ensure excellent efficiency in new build properties L eading heating technology manufacturer Grant is providing individually tailored integrated heating packages to those working on new build projects.

Sized and specified to suit the property and ownersʼ preferences, these bespoke heating packages offer a complete, highly efficient range of heating technologies including the main heat source, hot water storage, heat emitters and smart heating controls.

A typical Grant integrated heating package includes the Grant Aerona3 R32 air to water air source heat pump, Grant Integrated Unit or Grant pre-plumbed and pre-wired hot water cylinder, the Grant Uflex underfloor heating system and / or Grant Afinia aluminium radiators.

Typical 6kW heating system

Each integrated heating package is designed by Grantʼs technical specialists as part of the companyʼs free of charge heating design service, to maximise efficiencies, achieve compliance and future proof the property.

To avail of this service, send planning drawings, a contact number and preferred heat emitters for the property to heating@grantengineering.ie Product Spotlight: Grant Integrated Unit A key technology within Grantʼs integrated heating packages is the manufacturerʼs newest hot water storage unit – the Grant Integrated Unit.

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Grant Integrated Unit

The new space saving Grant Integrated Unit has been developed to work seamlessly with the Grant Aerona3 R32 air to water air source heat pump range, ensuring property owners can avail of an optimum efficiency, complete heating solution.

Standing at 1.8 metres high and with a footprint of 625 x 595mm the Grant Integrated Unit can be installed neatly within domestic spaces of a property. The Integrated Unit saves installers valuable time on installation as it has been pre-plumbed and pre-wired for a domestic hot water zone that allows hot water priority and a two zone heating, with an option for a third heating zone. Both the heating and potable heating vessels are included within the Integrated Unit. The unit is also designed with the service engineer in mind when it comes to ease of maintenance and service.

The high gain 210 litre capacity single coil Integrated Unit has a solid, stainless steel coil which will lead to a much faster heating time and quicker recovery. Featuring aesthetically pleasing white panelling, the unit is easily incorporated into the design of most modern homes, with the system controls and display easily accessed if required.

Think Heating. Think Grant.

Visit www.grant.eu for more information on Grantʼs range of innovative heating solutions and to read more about Grantʼs heating design service.

You can also follow Grant on Facebook and Twitter @GrantIRL or Instagram @Grant_IRL

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www.dlrcoco.ie

SPORTS & RECREATION New Ability Swing in Cabinteely Park

Pictured above (L-R) Therese Langan (Director Community & Cultural Development) Ruairi OʼDulaing (Senior Parks Superintendent) Shane McArdle (DLR Sports Partnership Coordinator) Abby Segrave & Brian OʼDonnell (Sports Inclusion Disability Officer) Cllr Una Power (Cathaoirleach)

Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Sports Partnership and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council are delighted to launch their new piece of inclusive playground equipment - the Ability Swing. Located at Cabinteely Park playground, it is suitable for children with a physical disability that use a wheelchair. This new equipment is part of the Sports Inclusion Disability Programme in the County, which is an initiative that works to increase the participation of all abilities in sport and physical activity.

A visit to any local park instantly conveys the pure joy felt when swinging – you can hear children shrieking with delight as they swing higher and higher way before you see them. The wheelchair platform and swing frame enables wheelchair users to experience both the joy and the physical benefits of swinging. This sturdily constructed swing frame and wheelchair platform ensures children with limited mobility are not excluded from enjoying all aspects of swinging.

The Ability Swing is suitable for self-propelled and power wheelchairs up to 250kg and is located beside other swing sets and playground equipment so that a child with a physical disability can enjoy the activity surrounded by their friends, family and other children. It is part of a Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council initiative to provide more inclusive equipment for all abilities in parks around the County over the next few years.

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The Covid19 pandemic changed the way we work, but not the nature of the work that needs to be carried out. Not least the vital work carried out by our local authorities. From remote working of office staff during the pandemic, to essential construction work continuing, to maintaining community services and planning for our future local and inter-county needs - the key to success has been maintaining and enhancing communication.

IP Telecom is at the forefront of helping local authorities, agencies and businesses keep communications open and take them to the next level – a level fit for the challenges and expectations of 21st century Ireland.

Meeting that challenge does not cost the earth either.

Through the elimination of costly line rentals, legacy onpremise phone systems and equipment by moving to the cloud based services IP Telecom provide, companies and agencies have significantly reduced their ongoing telephony costs whilst availing of the significant benefits that our hosted phone system brings.

From full integration with CRM suites and collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams and Slack to softphone clients on mobile devices and laptops, IP Telecomʼs suite of solutions ensure cost effective, always-on connectivity that enables hybrid working across teams and sites. So that no matter what the future holds, IP Telecomʼs solutions help us all communicate better.

Active since 2010, with over 5,000 businesses and agencies across almost 100,000 users on our dedicated built for business network - IP Telecom are Irelandʼs Business Communications Network.

Find out more at www.iptelecom.ie

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Funded by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Sport Ireland through the Dormant Accounts Fund, the Ability Swing can be accessed by a universal Radar key that also opens many disability toilets and changing areas in Ireland. Otherwise, you can use an Abloy Key to open the black lock box attached to the swing and inside you will find the Radar Key. There is also an Abloy key available from the coffee shop within the park. On the back of the swing there is a QR code that you can scan with your phone to give you instructions on its correct use.

Speaking at the official launch of the swing An Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Cllr. Una Power said: “The installation of this swing is a demonstration of this Councilʼs commitment to continuing to develop our county as a front runner in terms of the inclusion of accessible usage facilities in all areas of the public realm.”

Brian O Donnell, Sports Inclusion Disability Officer for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnership, commented: “The Ability Swing is a great step in making more inclusive places for a child with a disability to have fun and be included. In Cabinteely Park you have inclusive benches, car parking spaces, toilets and now the Ability Swing, which will add to the County Councils ethos of inclusiveness.”

For more details on the Ability Swing or any other queries in relation to disability sport in the County contact Brian in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnership on 01-2719506, bodonnell@dlrcoco.ie or visit www.dlrsportspartnership.ie.

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€5 million additional funding for litter prevention and cleaning as Ireland prepares for an outdoor summer •

2020 National Litter Pollution Monitoring System results show cigarette litter, packaging litter, food-related litter and plastic litter to be the main causes of litter in our communities

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, has announced €5 million in additional funding for litter infrastructure and awareness campaigns to encourage people to dispose of their rubbish thoughtfully.

As the economy re-opens, and Ireland prepares for an outdoor summer, we will enjoy a much higher level of outdoor dining and socialising, and local authorities have had to increase their spending on recycling and litter facilities.

Minister Ryan said: "I am providing this extra funding to support local authorities so we can all enjoy an outdoor summer in a pleasant environment. The funding will add more recycling and litter facilities to meet increased demand – but itʼs also up to all of us to clean up our act when it comes to litter, and make a conscious effort to leave no trace."

The Minister has sought an immediate mapping of bin infrastructure to identify optimum placement of new bins and to pin point where smart solar-compacting bins could be feasible. Minister Ryan will also seek to harmonise the local authority response to the litter issue, to centralise procurement of materials, so that quality litter pickers, gloves, dog litter bags and bins are available. The aim will be to reduce costs, reduce duplication of effort and to harmonise the quality of product.

As well as the €5 million additional funding to the Local Authorities for litter infrastructure, the Minister today confirmed that a further €3 million in funding will be provided to local authorities in support of the 2021 AntiDumping Initiative which, since its inception in 2017, has supported the delivery of over 300 projects, many involving local community groups and resulted in the removal of over 10,000 tonnes of illegally dumped waste from our landscape.

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The Minister has also approved €225,000 in funding for An Taisce in support of an extended 2021 National Spring Clean programme, which this year will run through the summer months due to the effect of the ongoing Covid situation on their traditional timetable.

Members of the Irish Waste Management Association in every county in Ireland have agreed to work with DECC to develop proposals that will assist with litter clean ups in local communities. This will be in addition to existing efforts undertaken by local communities to deal with the litter problem and is a very welcome development. DECC will also consider what additional enforcement supports can be applied, whether legislative or financial.

Today also marks the publication of the 2020 National Litter Pollution Monitoring System (NLPMS) Results.

The NLPMS Results provide important statistical data on the extent, causes and composition of litter in Ireland.

In announcing the publication of the 2020 Results, Minister Ryan acknowledged the role being played by both local authorities and communities in tackling Irelandʼs litter challenges and noted new proposals to combat litter.

Minister Ryan said: "The results show that despite increased reporting of incidents of littering and illegal dumping during the Covid lockdown, the situation on the ground improved during 2020. We need to ensure that this is replicated in 2021. There was an upsurge in the number of volunteers in 2020 who gave their time to contribute to making their communities litter free and we should not take their efforts for granted.

I am determined that this positive community spirit is recognised and supported and I will continue to steer investment towards programmes aimed at tackling littering and illegal dumping in a collaborative manner."

While the solutions to litter have been provided locally by communities and local authority staff, 2020 also proves that a significant source of the problem is also local. With travel restrictions, we can no longer imagine that fly-tipping is entirely the work of passing strangers.

DECC continues to promote and support a number of environmental awareness raising programmes, including the Green Schools Programme, aimed at educating our young people on all aspects of the environment and the Anti-Litter and Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grants Scheme (ALAGS) which provides funding to local authorities to support community groups and raise awareness of litter issues. ALAGS will receive circa €745,000 in 2021.

The composition figures underscore the relative presence of cigarette-related litter, packaging litter, foodrelated litter and plastic litter. These are items which have associated initiatives in Irelandʼs Waste Action Plan.

The introduction of the Deposit and Return Scheme should also prove to have a significant impact. The trend here will be monitored in future reports.

In summary, the 2020 National Litter Pollution Monitoring System Results reveal: •

The percentage of unpolluted (LPI 1) areas increased significantly from 17.3% in 2019 to 23.2% in 2020, while taken together, the percentage of unpolluted (LPI 1) and slightly polluted (LPI 2) areas combined increased by 1.5% over the period, indicating an improvement in litter pollution levels from 2019 to 2020

•

The main constituent elements of litter pollution nationwide in 2020 were cigarette-related litter (46.5%), packaging items (21.9%), food-related litter (11%) and sweet-related litter (9.5%)

•

The main causative factors of litter pollution nationally were identified as follows: passing pedestrians (40.6%), passing motorists (23.7%), retail outlets (8.7%), gathering points (5.3%) and places of leisure/entertainment (4.1%)

The 2020 NLPMS Results will be available in full on www.litter.ie

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Our Rural Future: Minister Humphreys allocates €10.5 million for upgrade works on rural roads and laneways •

Funding to improve access to homes, farms and outdoor amenities

•

Every county to receive budget increase

•

Minister Humphreys: Supporting connectivity in rural Ireland is vital

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has announced the allocation of €10.5 million for repairs and improvement works on nonpublic roads in rural communities.

The funding, announced under the Local Improvement Scheme, will improve access to rural homes and farms, as well as outdoor amenities such as lakes, rivers, mountains and beaches.

The €10.5 million allocation represents a 5% increase compared to 2020, with every county receiving an increase.

Over €68 million has now been invested under the Local Improvement Scheme since it was re-introduced in 2017.

The focus of the scheme is to support the continued improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities but which represent a vital piece of infrastructure for rural residents.

Announcing the €10.5 million in funding, Minister Humphreys said: “As part of ʻOur Rural Futureʼ, the Government has committed to increasing the level of investment in the repair of non-public roads through the Local Improvement Scheme."

“I am therefore really pleased today to announce a 5% increase in funding under the Local Improvement Scheme."

“The Local Improvement Scheme is an important source of funding for small non-public roads and laneways leading to homes and farms as well as outdoor amenities such as lakes, rivers, mountains and beaches."

“Since the scheme was re-introduced in 2017, close to 2,400 roads have been funded for repair works. This has made a real difference to the lives of over 10,000 landowners and residents in rural Ireland."

Minister Humphreys added: “I know there is a significant demand for funding under the Local Improvement Scheme right across the country. That is why I am today announcing increased funding for every county under the scheme, however, I am acutely aware that more is needed. I am working to identify if additional funding can be provided for LIS in 2021 and I would therefore urge each Local Authority to utilise the funding announced today, and complete the repair works on the selected roads, as soon as possible."

“This would position them well to undertake repairs on additional roads before the end of the year should further funding become available”.

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The allocation to each county under the Local Improvement Scheme for 2021 is set out below.

Local Authorities are responsible for identifying and prioritising roads for improvement works under the scheme, in consultation with residents/landowners.

The funding provided by the Department of Rural and Community Development will be complemented by a local financial contribution from landowners/householders, as well as Local Authority resources.

There will be a cap of €1,200 on the amount that any individual householder or landowner will be asked to contribute towards the cost of repairs to their road.

Allocations under the 2021 Local Improvement Scheme County

Amount

Carlow

€270,000

Cavan

€289,254

Clare

€500,811

Cork

€920,000

Donegal

€697,456

Galway

€876,959

Kerry

€689,930

Kildare

€270,000

Kilkenny

€308,905

Laois

€270,000

Leitrim

€270,000

Limerick

€404,090

Longford

€270,000

Louth

€270,000

Mayo

€798,496

Meath

€346,394

Monaghan

€270,000

Offaly

€298,871

Roscommon

€375,104

Sligo

€276,154

Tipperary

€619,969

Waterford

€278,802

Westmeath

€276,433

Wexford

€349,878

Wicklow

€302,494

Total

€10,500,000

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Works progressing to upgrade Blessington Waste Water Treatment Plant Irish Water, working in partnership with Wicklow County Council, is progressing plans to upgrade Blessington Wastewater Treatment Plant to safeguard the environment and support social and economic development in the area.

The works will involve the construction of a new primary treatment system including a pump station and upgrades to the existing aeration tanks as well as the installation of a new odour control system.

When completed, the project will increase the capacity of the plant to serve a population equivalent (PE) of up to 9,000, enabling future growth and safeguarding the environment by ensuring compliance with national and EU legislation. These essential works will be delivered in adherence with the current HSE and government guidance on Covid-19.

Speaking about the project Dawid Wozniak, Regional Lead with Irish Water, said “Irish Water is committed to providing a safe and reliable water supply, protecting the environment and supporting the growth of homes and businesses across Ireland. We are working in partnership with Wicklow County Council to continually improve wastewater treatment throughout Wicklow and are delighted to progress with plans to upgrade Blessington Wastewater Treatment Plant. The upgrade works will provide Blessington and the surrounding areas with the infrastructure needed to support future growth by increasing the capacity of the plant as well as safeguarding the environment. We look forward to providing further updates as the project progresses”.

The project will be carried out on behalf of Irish Water by Veolia Water Ireland and is expected to commence in the coming weeks. Irish Water will provide further communications as the project progresses.

This project forms part of Irish Waterʼs investment plan where works have been prioritised to address the most critical issues in line with commitments outlined in Irish Waterʼs business plan. Delivery of the business plan will involve a €5.5bn investment in capital spending on drinking water and wastewater quality and capacity and new infrastructure up to the end of 2021.

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Works progressing on upgrades to Mallow Wastewater Treatment Plant Irish Water is delighted to announce the signing of a new contract to upgrade Mallow wastewater treatment plant.

Irish Water, working in partnership with Cork County Council, will invest €20 million in this project. The upgrades will deliver a modern and improved plant, improving performance of the wastewater treatment infrastructure. The treatment capacity of the existing plant will be increased and the current overloading issue at the plant will be resolved. The new wastewater infrastructure will also enhance local amenities and provide a platform for social and economic development.

Glan Agua Ltd. have signed the contract and will work on behalf of Irish Water to deliver this project. Works on the project are expected to commence in the coming months and be completed in 2023.

Anthony Kavanagh, Regional Infrastructure Lead with Irish Water, commented on the project, “Irish Water is delighted to deliver a new upgrade project at Mallow wastewater treatment plant. This project will enhance the local environment by improving water quality in the River Blackwater, while supporting the social and economic development of Mallow town in the decades ahead.”

“The project will involve upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant in Ballyellis as well as the construction of a new terminal pumping station and storm water holding tank at Mallow Bridge.”

“We look forward to working with the local community to deliver this essential project in conjunction with our partners Cork County Council and Glan Agua Ltd.” Irish Water and our appointed Contractor, Glan Agua Ltd., will be in contact with the local community in Mallow in advance of works commencing in the town and throughout the delivery stage of the project.

Irish Water is also progressing with upgrades to the sewer network in Mallow, with the project also expected to commence in the coming months. Both projects will be coordinated by Irish Water, ensuring that any potential disruptions to the local community are minimised.

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First Fix Free scheme extended to 600,000 additional customers An additional 600,000 customers can now benefit from Irish Waterʼs free leak repair service following approval by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) to extend the First Fix scheme.

In approving Irish Waterʼs proposals, the CRU recognises the success of the scheme in reducing leakage and safeguarding water supplies.

The First Fix scheme is a key element of the national Leakage Reduction Programme which is addressing the serious problem of leakage in Irelandʼs water network. The scheme provides customers with support in identifying and fixing leaks. Irish Water offers a free leak investigation and, when a potential leak has been identified, a free repair to a leak detected on an external supply pipe on the customerʼs property.

Since its introduction in 2015, the First Fix scheme has resulted in savings of 155 million litres of water every day, enough water to supply 450,000 homes a year. To date more than 87,000 investigations and 60,400 leak repairs have been completed. The changes approved by the CRU this week will open the scheme to customers who were not included in the original scope, including those without a water meter. As a result up to 600,000 more customers will now be able to benefit from the service.

Irish Waterʼs Customer Strategy and Capability Manager Geoffrey Bourke said, “Tackling Irelandʼs high rate of leakage is a top priority for Irish Water. We are making steady progress by replacing old water mains, fixing leaks and upgrading our water network as part of the Leakage Reduction Programme.

“The First Fix scheme is an essential tool in tackling the problem of leakage on customersʼ property.

We welcome the decision to expand the eligibility criteria. Many more customers will now be able to have a leak fixed free of charge and help to conserve our precious water resources. This will benefit everyone by ensuring a more secure and reliable water supply for all. We look forward to working with our customers throughout Ireland as we continue to deliver this important programme.”

Following the completion of the CRU review of the First Fix Free scheme, Irish Water will work with the Regulator and our delivery partners to implement the recommended changes, including: • Unmetered domestic customers can now avail of the scheme; • Domestic customers with usage above 213,000 litres per annum will be prioritised for leak investigation under the First Fix Scheme; • An Internal Stop Valve is no longer needed for a customer to be eligible; • Some mixed-use customers will now be eligible; • Properties with a shared service connection will now be eligible; and • Customers no longer need to be registered with Irish Water to avail of the scheme.

Full details of the First Fix Free scheme can be found on the First Fix Free section of our website. Our customer care helpline is open 24/7 on 1850 278 278 and customers can also contact us on Twitter @IWCare with any queries.

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Works progress to improve Kildare wastewater network Irish Water, working in partnership with Kildare County Council, continues to progress the Upper Liffey Valley Sewerage Scheme to safeguard the environment and support economic and social development in towns across Kildare. The current phase of the project involves upgrading and replacing the wastewater network in

several locations in Newbridge. Works have already been completed along Military Road/Athgarvan Road, Páirc Mhuire Estate and R445/Edward Street.

Speaking about the project, Olive Marshall Regional Lead with Irish Water, said “Irish Water is committed to investing in the wastewater treatment infrastructure in Kildare to support the needs of the growing population and to safeguard the environment. These works are part of the Upper Liffey Valley Sewerage Scheme, a €38 million project that is needed to provide East Kildare and the surrounding areas with the infrastructure needed to support the building of houses, schools, attract new industry and allow companies to expand and grow.”

This project forms part of a €38 million investment in the wastewater network in Kildare that involves laying 18km of new sewers to improve the wastewater network and safeguard the environment. The project is essential as the current wastewater infrastructure is unable to support the needs of the area and does not comply with European legislation or Environmental Protection Agency requirements.

Irish Water continues to work at this time with our Local Authority partners, contractors and others to safeguard the health and well-being of both staff and the public and to ensure the continuity of critical drinking water and wastewater services.

For more information regarding these works, please visit our Newbridge Wastewater Upgrade project page.

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Works progress on the Gweedore Sewage Scheme

Irish Water along with its Local Authority partner Donegal County Council, is delighted to announce that the innovative Demonstration Project as part of the Gweedore Sewerage Scheme is set to recommence. This project will solve the problem of inadequate sewage treatment in Gweedore, its over reliance on the use of septic tank systems and will improve water quality in Gweedore Bay. The project will provide environmental benefits, support future growth in the area and ensure compliance with Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.

Speaking about the works, Irish Waterʼs Patrick Greene explained: “In 2019 Irish Water successfully completed the installation of the pressure sewer network associated with this project. This required the installation of approximately 2.5km of new wastewater network along Factory Road, the Lower Road and the link road connecting both. Now we are ready to undertake the next step in the project, which is the installation of pods at 40 properties. The collected wastewater will then be treated at the existing Údaras na Gaeltachta wastewater treatment plant.”

The benefits of this project to the wider community will be far reaching. Speaking about these positive impacts Patrick said: “This innovative new sewerage scheme will ultimately lead to a reduction on the reliance of septic tanks in the area. This will decrease the discharge of untreated wastewater to the environment by enhancing the treatment of wastewater. This will benefit all those living and visiting the area and will have a significant positive impact on water quality in Gweedore Bay and improve water quality for swimmers, surfers and fishermen.”

Works are expected to commence in June 2021 and those participating in the scheme will be contacted individually prior to works commencing. Cleantech Civils is delivering the work on behalf of Irish Water.

This project forms part of Irish Waterʼs investment plan where works have been prioritised to address the most critical issues in line with commitments outlined in Irish Waterʼs business plan. Delivery of the business plan will involve a €5.5bn investment in capital spending on drinking water and wastewater quality and capacity and new infrastructure up to the end of 2021.

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Works commence on the upgrade of Lough Forbes Water Treatment Plant

Irish Water, working in partnership with Longford County Council, is progressing with upgrade works at the Lough Forbes Water Treatment Plant, which will safeguard the drinking water supply to homes and businesses supplied by the Longford Central Water Supply Scheme. The works are being carried out by Veolia Water Ireland on behalf of Irish Water and will ensure that the water treatment facilities are fully compliant with EU Drinking Water Directives.

The upgrade works will provide increased capacity and improve the performance of the water treatment plant to meet the current needs of the area and allow for social and economic growth in Longford. Irish Water will also construct a clarification tank, treated water tank and pumping station. Instrumentation systems will also be upgraded.

Speaking about the project, Martin Temple, Irish Water Regional Lead, said, “This essential upgrade will improve drinking water quality and safeguard water supply for over 19,000 people in Longford. The works will be contained onsite so there will be minimum disruption to local businesses and residents.

This project forms part of a larger investment by Irish Water in water treatment plants across Longford, including similar upgrade works at Smear and Lough Kinale Water Treatment Plants.”

Irish Water is working proactively with our delivery partners and as part of a multi-agency working group to ensure that our construction works are carried out in a controlled and safe manner, in keeping with Government and HSE guidelines to protect workers, their families and the broader community.

For further information on this project please visit the Projects and Plans section of our website.

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Works progressing on the Kilcummin Sewerage Scheme

Irish Water and Kerry County Council are progressing plans for Kilcummin Sewerage Scheme. The scheme will provide a new sewer collection system for Kilcummin village, that will ensure wastewater from the village is treated appropriately.

Irish Water, working in partnership with Kerry County Council, will develop this project. Once operational, the new sewerage scheme will connect into the sewer network in Killarney town, where it will be collected and transferred to Killarney wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) for appropriate treatment.

The scheme will ensure compliance with wastewater discharge regulations. It will also improve water quality in the River Deenagh and Lough Leane and protect recreational waters for swimming, fishing, boating and sightseeing, as well as protecting the integrity of the local environment. The new wastewater infrastructure will enhance local amenities and provide a platform for social and economic development.

The new sewerage infrastructure to be constructed as part of this scheme will include a sewer network for Kilcummin village, a pumping station, and approximately 6 kms of sewers. The scheme will reduce the reliance on on-site systems such as septic tanks and package treatment plants.

Over the coming months, Irish Water will progress land acquisition and procurement for the scheme. Works on the project are expected to commence late in 2022.

David Shalloo, Wastewater Regional Delivery Lead with Irish Water, commented on the project, “We are looking forward to delivering this important project on behalf of the local community in Kilcummin.

All new infrastructure has been sized to accommodate future population growth and the project will enhance the local environment and provide a platform for social and economic development well into the future”.

“We were delighted to update elected representatives on our plans for the Kilcummin Sewerage Scheme today and we look forward to working with them and the local community to deliver this project in conjunction with our partners Kerry County Council.”

Irish Water and Kerry County Council will continue to update the local community in Kilcummin as we progress our work on this project.

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Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme given the green-light IrIrish Water is working in partnership with Local Authorities to support growth and development throughout the country, while protecting the environment and safeguarding water supplies.

Thirteen wastewater treatment plants have now been selected for upgrade as part of the Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme.

This investment in the local wastewater infrastructure will provide additional capacity for the development of new homes, while ensuring that wastewater continues to be treated to an appropriate standard.

Details of other towns and villages to be included in the programme, if any, will be announced in the coming months.

Elaine Heneghan, Irish Waterʼs Regional Forward Planning Specialist, said: “We are pleased to confirm that this important project to improve wastewater treatment capacity in small towns and villages has been given the green light. This will bring big benefits to these areas by ensuring the infrastructure is in place to meet the needs of the towns and villages as they continues to grow.

“The purpose of the Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme is to support growth in smaller towns and villages. The areas were selected following detailed consultation with Local Authorities to identify and prioritise areas for investment.”

The project will now continue through the next stages including design, detailed planning, procurement and approvals. Further updates on the budget and timelines for delivery will be provided in due course.

Irish Water is responsible for public water and wastewater infrastructure and is committed to providing a safe and reliable water supply, protecting the environment and supporting the growth of homes and businesses.

The building, repair and upgrading of Irish Waterʼs water treatment plants, wastewater treatment plants, water and sewer network will require a multi-billion euro investment programme over many years. Irish Water is investing €5.2 billion in the period from 2020-2024 in drinking water and wastewater quality and capacity and new infrastructure.

The Draft Capital Investment Plan is subject to consultation and final determination by Irish Waterʼs regulator, the Commission of the Regulation of Utilities (CRU). This process is ongoing. Following its completion and with the approval of the CRU, updated details of the planned investments in each county will be outlined over the coming months.

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Details on the thirteen Wastewater Treatment Plants that have been selected for upgrade are below:

County Dublin

Nominated settlements Naul

High level project summary Upgrade of the Naul WWTP at the existing site to provide additional capacity for growth.

Kildare

Derrintirun

Upgrade of the Derrintirun WWTP at the existing site to provide additional capacity for growth.

Laois

Ballyroan

Upgrade of the Ballyroan WWTP at the existing site to provide additional capacity for growth.

Meath

Longwood

Upgrade of the Longwood WWTP at the existing site to provide additional capacity for growth.

Offaly

Rhode

Upgrade of the Rhode WWTP at the existing site to provide additional capacity for growth.

Westmeath

Ballymore

Upgrade of the Ballymore WWTP at the existing site to provide additional capacity for growth.

Wicklow

Aughrim

Upgrade of the Aughrim WWTP at the existing site to provide additional capacity for growth.

Cavan

Ballyconnell

Upgrade of the Ballyconnell WWTP at the existing site to provide additional capacity for growth.

Galway

Ballygar

Upgrade of the Ballygar WWTP at the existing site to provide additional capacity for growth.

Clare

Doonbeg

Upgrade of the Doonbeg WWTP at the existing site to provide additional capacity.

Cork

Killeens

Load diversion from Killeens to the Cork City agglomeration to provide additional capacity for growth.

Cork

Kilumney/Ovens

The project will amalgamate and consolidate existing wastewater treatment infrastructure in the Kilumney / Ovens area into a single WWTP with capacity to cater for the existing development and projected growth.

Leitrim

Carrigallen

Upgrade of the Carrigallen WWTP at the existing site to provide additional capacity for growth.

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Works progress on the Arklow Wastewater Treatment Plant

Irish Water continues to progress the Arklow Wastewater Treatment Plant project. This new wastewater treatment plant will result in significant improvements to water quality in Arklow by ending the discharge of raw sewage directly into the Avoca River, safeguarding the environment, facilitating economic development and provide for a growing population.

The project will include the development of a new, state of the art, wastewater treatment plant that has been designed to provide an ultimate treatment capacity for a PE (population equivalent) of up to 36,000, at the Old Wallboard Factory site located at Ferrybank in Arklow, two interceptor sewer pipelines (along North and South Quay) to bring untreated wastewater to the proposed plant and a marine sea outfall pipe to safely discharge the treated wastewater effluent to the Irish Sea. Plans for the delivery of the Arklow Wastewater Treatment plant are at an advanced stage and Irish Water is progressing through the relevant statutory process. The necessary planning, land and licences have been secured and the procurement of the construction contract is concluding. Final site surveys, which are required to help inform the design and construction methodology, are scheduled to begin in the coming weeks. Irish Water expects construction to begin later this year.

Michael Tinsley, Portfolio Delivery Manager with Irish Water, said “Eliminating the discharge of untreated wastewater into the River Avoca continues to be a key priority for Irish Water and this project is critical in ending this current practice and safeguarding the wastewater system in Arklow for the future. When completed, the new wastewater treatment plant will have significant benefits for both residents and businesses as well as tourists that visit the area as it will improve the water quality in the River Avoca and enable future economic growth. We will continue to work closely with the local community and will issue further updates as we progress with this vital project”.

Irish Water continues to work with our Local Authority partners, contractors and others to safeguard the health and well-being of both staff and the public and to ensure the continuity of critical drinking water and wastewater services.

For more information, visit the Arklow Wastewater Treatment Plant project page on our website.

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