Local Authority News. Vol. 40. No. 5

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CONTENTS Vol 40 No. 5

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.

GO GREEN WITH COLAS!

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TII - 2022 GRANT ALLOCATIONS TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES FOR NATIONAL ROADS, ACTIVE TRAVEL AND GREENWAYS

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FIREBIRD REFLECTS ON ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR

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PUBLIC SECTOR SAVED €1.8B THROUGH AVOIDED ENERGY USE SINCE 2009 (SEAI)

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TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN OPENS NEW EI ELECTRONICS GROUP HEADQUARTERS IN SHANNON, AND ANNOUNCES PLANS TO CREATE 200 JOBS.

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GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES THE NATIONAL RETROFITTING SCHEME

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RYAN PLANS FOR ACCELERATION IN ACTIVE TRAVEL POST-COVID (NTA)

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GRANT LEADS THE WAY TO INNOVATION SUCCESS

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DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL LAUNCHES DEDICATED TELECOMS UNIT TO ACCELERATE DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS AND 5G POTENTIAL. 24 PIPELIFE ECO - IRELAND’S #1 SUPPLIER OF ECO HEATING SOLUTIONS

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UNLEASHING POWERFUL DATA ANALYTICS TO SUPPORT SOCIAL HOUSING RETROFIT

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CORK COUNTY COUNCIL LEADS €53 MILLION PUBLIC LIGHTING ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROJECT FOR THE SOUTH WEST REGION

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REGULARS IRISH WATER UPDATES

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CLASSFIEDS

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.ie .ie

Design • Construct • Maintenance Design

Fountainworks Ltd. Public Realm Water Displays Tel: 046-906 0681 • sales@fountainworks.ie 2

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Go Green with Colas!

In February of last year,, Gearoid Lohan, CEO of Colas Ireland, launched a “Go Green with Colas” initiative to encourage all Colas subsidiaries to play a more pro-active role in meeting their environmental responsibilities. An additional aspect of this initiative is to raise awareness with our many customers and stakeholders of how Colas can help them meet their carbon reducing targets.

In March last year, Irelandʼs carbon reduction targets were enshrined into law by the Government when it passed legislation committing the country to an overall aim of reducing our carbon emissions by 51 % by 2030 and to reach “net zero” by 2050. These are ambitious targets and will require action and contribution by every sector of industry and community.

Since its establishment over 70 years ago, the Colas Group has led the way in the development of environmentally friendly pavement materials. In fact, the name Colas comes from the words COLd ASphalt.

Cold-mix asphalt, as it is called, is similar to the more commonly used “hot-mix” asphalt but is produced by using a bitumen emulsion instead of the conventional hot bitumen. As bitumen emulsions can be used with aggregates at ambient temperatures, as opposed to the high temperatures required to manufacture hot-mix asphalt, there are considerable energy and, hence, carbon savings to be achieved by their use.

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Figure 1: Cold-mix asphalt trial in Colas yard in Mallow, 1984

Colas first introduced the cold-mix asphalt technology into Ireland in the 1980ʼs. In 1990, a cold-mix asphalt called “Grave-émulsion” was used in the base course of a 40 km section of the N8 from Dublin to Cork. At that time, the N8 was the highest trafficked road in the country. But the grave-émulsion cold-mix material well and truly survived the test of time. In fact, when it had reached the end of its design life in 2006, there were no signs of distress or failure, with no cracking, an average rut depth of only 3 mm (versus the failure criteria of > 10 mm) and an IRI smoothness indicator of 1.7, which is well below the smoothness criteria for a new road!

Since then, Colas Ireland has led the development and promotion of other emulsion-based materials and techniques such as surface dressing, cold-asphalt micro-surfacing and in situ pavement recycling.

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Figure 2: Surface dressing with bitumen emulsion technology is the most environmentally friendly road re-surfacing technique – in addition to being the most cost effective

In addition to being a cold-mix technique, in situ cold recycling is one of the most environmentally sustainable and low carbon maintenance techniques that is available to the Local Authority Engineer. In addition to being a cold technique, use is also made of the aggregate material already in the pavement. Consequently, there is less use of this valuable resource and there is less or no transporting of aggregates from a quarry or asphalt plant to the jobsite. In addition, the bituminous binder already present in the pavement can also be recycled.

Figure 3: Emulsion bound cold in situ recycling

Much of these developments have been made possible thanks to Colas Ireland owning and operating its own speciality chemicals company in Oranmore, Co. Galway. Chemoranʼs range of emulsifiers and bitumen additives enables Colas subsidiaries worldwide to design their emulsions and asphalt mixtures to best meet their customersʼ needs. Chemoranʼs bitumen additive called CWM™ has been used for the production of over 7 million tonnes of warm-mix asphalt worldwide and its adhesion agents extend the service-life of hot-mix asphalt by improving the bond between the binder and the aggregate and, hence, its durability.

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In terms of making a change to reduce the industryʼs carbon footprint, switching to warm-mix asphalt, instead of hot-mix asphalt, is probably the easiest transition. By simply adding an additive, such as CWM™ into the bitumen, mixing temperatures at the hot-mix plant can be reduced by at least 30 °C. Temperature reductions of up to 40 °C have been achieved, even with the very dense EME mixtures used in France.

Needless to say, the further the reduction in mixing temperatures, the greater the savings in energy use at the asphalt mixing plant and, as a consequence, the greater the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. It has been widely reported in the literature that energy savings of the order 15 to 20 % can be achieved when the mixing temperatures are reduced by 30 to 40 °C. In Irelandʼs case, this would equate to a reduction in carbon emissions of the order 15,000 tonnes of CO2 eq. per annum.

In terms of performance, during the past ten years, it has been well established that warm-mix asphalts behave in the same way as conventional hot-mix asphalts. Since 2008, over 7 million tonnes of warm-mix asphalt have been made using the CWM additive alone. Many more millions of tonnes have been produced using other additives. Warm-mix asphalt has been used in every bituminous layer of the pavement from base to surface course, including mixes that contain high percentages of RAP, and under all traffic levels.

Perhaps as importantly, another significant benefit to reduced mixing temperatures is a reduction in VOCs emitted at the laying site, i.e. less smoke and fumes. It has been established that, as a general rule, for every 12 °C degree drop in mixing temperatures, VOC emissions are reduced by half at the job site. At a trial site in Dublin in 2012, the reduction in VOCs was measured and found to be 80 % lower than that of the conventional hot-mix, when the mixing temperatures were reduced by 35 °C .

Figure 4: Laying CWM-modified warm-mix in France (at 40 °C lower) – no smoke behind the screed!

Another benefit of reduced mixing and laying temperatures is that the pavement will cool to ambient temperatures more quickly and, therefore, can be reopened to traffic sooner. Consequently, there is a less of an inconvenience on the road user.

In terms of the costs to implement such a change, the cost of the warm-mix additive will be offset by the savings in fuel use. In addition, if the cost of carbon credits is increased to the € 80 per tonne mark (as is now promised by this government), the net increased cost to the asphalt producer and, consequently to the client, i.e. the Irish taxpayer, will be zero!

The road construction/maintenance industry and the asphalt industry, in particular, has within its grasp the ability to play a significant role in achieving Irelandʼs carbon reduction targets by promoting and/or even insisting on the use of both warm-mix and cold-mix asphalt. The benefits are obvious and can be implemented immediately.

For further information on how the Colas Ireland group of companies can help you to reduce your carbon footprint, please contact us at www.gogreenwithcolas.ie .

By Alan Kavanagh, CEng, Technical Director of Colas Ireland Group

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Firebird Reflects on another Successful Year 2021 was a milestone year for Firebird as it took steps to further progress its ambition for future growth and its mission towards sustainability. In a year plagued with supply issues across the globe, as a manufacturer, Firebird is grateful to have been able to deliver a service and supply of high quality products and heating solutions that remained undisrupted and unaffected.

With a passion for developing new and innovative renewable heating solutions and products, Firebirdʼs key products which proved hugely popular with installers and customers include the Firebird Enviroair Air Source Heat Pumps, which are NZEB (Nearly Zero Energy Building) compliant, with a low running cost PCB controller and high-tech intelligent heating controls, Firebird are market leading designers and as well as a wide range of supporting products and solar manufacturers of commercial and domestic boilers, solutions. which are HVO ready. Pictured here are the General Manager, Mark Doyle (left) and Company Director, For over 40 years, Firebird has been delivering world class Colm Murphy (right), showcasing how clean products, while setting new standards in quality, innovation HVO is as an alternative fuel source. and sustainability. The company employs over 150 members of staff across its sites in Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK, all highly skilled, with a wide range of expertise and experience from research and product development, manufacturing, technical and after sales support to sales and administration.

Throughout the year Firebird took innovative steps to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. One such way to achieve lower emissions is switching to eco-friendly HVO as a drop-in replacement for Kerosene in existing domestic boilers. This would cost homeowners a one-off conversion cost of less than €400. Confident that HVO is not just the future but the “now”, Firebirdʼs three manufacturing sites have been running on HVO for the last 12 months.

According to Mark Doyle, General Manager of Firebird, “There are approx. 700,000 liquid fuel-burning boilers in Irish homes. If these homes switched to HVO, up to 90% of greenhouse gas emissions would be eliminated and emissions such as nitrogen oxide (NOx) would be dramatically reduced, literally overnight. Firebird does not sell liquid fuels. Firebird has no vested interest, so this fuel is not a commercial opportunity for Firebird - homeowners and the environment are those who would benefit.”

This year was also the start of a new chapter for Firebird, as it rebranded to reflect its business strategy and ambition for growth. To mark over 40 years in business, Firebirdʼs rebrand was in recognition of how the business has grown through innovation while in parallel, it ambitiously leads the charge, within its industry, on renewable and sustainable energy. The rebrand brought to life through a progressive new logo and website, was not only an important way in which to align the brand visually across its sites in Ireland, England and Northern Ireland, but it also demonstrates Firebirdʼs vision for the future.

Commenting on the success of the past year Mark Doyle of Firebird said, “We would like to thank all homeowners, installers, plumbers, merchants we work with for their continued support throughout 2021. In yet another challenging year felt across the globe as a result of the pandemic, we have much to be grateful for given how our business has continued to grow from strength to strength. The industry is at a very exciting juncture and we are proud to have played our part particularly in the context of renewables. We look forward to putting our best foot forward again in 2022.”

For more information visit firebird.ie

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Public Sector Saved €1.8b Through Avoided Energy Use Since 2009 Public bodies and government departments are 34% more energy efficient than in 2009, exceeding the 2020 target of 33% •

Public bodies avoided 6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions in the decade 2009-2020

Public bodies have saved €1.8 billion and 6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions through avoided energy use between 2009 and 2020. The 2020 Annual Report on Public Sector Energy Efficiency Performance shows that the public sector is 34% more energy efficient and exceeded its 33% energy efficiency target. This is the fourth consecutive year of continued improved performance from the public sector following the introduction of the Public Sector Energy Efficiency Strategy in 2017.

SEAI recognise the impact the public health emergency may have had towards the achievement of the 34% energy efficient result.

Announcing the publication of the report, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications. Eamon Ryan TD, said: “This report demonstrates that Irelandʼs public sector is leading the way for the rest of the country to follow.

We have seen excellent progress with a collective 34% energy efficiency improvement achieved by the public sector in the last 11 years, exceeding the target set for 2020. However, the next decade will require a concerted effort to meet our targets and overcome the climate crisis. The Programme for Government sets out an ambitious vision for the public sector to achieve 50% energy efficiency improvement and 51% CO2 reduction by 2030. Looking ahead, there will be an emphasis on developing a cost effective retrofit programme for the public sector building stock and electrification of public sector vehicles, to achieve the vision for 2030.”

Eamon Ryan T.D, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and Transport William Walsh, CEO of SEAI said: “SEAI works closely with public bodies and schools, helping them to achieve their energy efficiency improvement goals. Todayʼs report shows that energy efficiency improvements were achieved across the board, even in sectors which were impacted by the public health emergency. Achieving the target set out for 2020 demonstrates real leadership and commitment towards improved energy efficiency by the public sector.

Our focus now shifts to the next decade and the challenging targets for 2030. SEAI will be working closely with public bodies to help them achieve the changes necessary so they can rise to the challenge and meet the 2030 targets.”

William Walsh , CEO of SEAI The 344 public bodies and 2,807 schools who reported on their energy performance collectively improved their energy efficiency to 34%, up from 29% the previous year. This improvement achieved €298 million in annual energy savings for the sector and 848,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions from avoided energy use in 2020.

A copy of the Annual Report 2021 on Public Sector Energy Efficiency Performance is available at https://www.seai.ie/publications/Public-Sector-Annual-Report-2021.pdf

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Taoiseach Micheál Martin Opens New Ei E Shannon, and Announces Plans to Cre

n Friday last Shannon based Company Ei Electronics welcomed Taoiseach Micheál Martin to officially open its state-of-the-art new Group Headquarters on its existing Campus. The Company also announced plans to hire 200 additional staff over the coming 12 months at its Shannon Facility.

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The new Headquarters Building on the existing Ei Campus comprises a 10,000m2 facility. It includes significant additional manufacturing capacity, Research and Development, and office space. The expansion underpins a strategy of maintaining 100% of manufacturing in Shannon, in addition to the co-location of other key functions on a single site.

Commenting on the announcement at the Ei Electronics Campus in Shannon, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “Iʼm pleased to be here to witness first-hand the continued expansion of Ei Electronics, one of Irelandʼs largest and most successful manufacturing and electronic companies. For over five decades the company has been a remarkable contribution to Shannon and the Mid-West region and its ambitious plans for future growth and job creation are very welcome.

Ei Electronics is an outstanding Irish-owned company creating solutions with a global reach and I commend Michael and his team on todayʼs milestone announcement.”

With a turnover in 2021 of circa €320m, and 1,100 employees worldwide, Ei Electronics www.eielectronics.com. commands a leadership position globally as a manufacturer of residential fire and gas detection products.

The Company is 100% Irish owned, and is in existence for over 55 years. Over 30 years ago it became a fully-fledged Irish Company after a management buy-out from General Electric in 1988. Today Ei Electronics is one of the most significant employers in Irelandʼs Midwest.

Ei CEO Michael Guinee added, “We are delighted to welcome An Taoiseach for what is another milestone in Eiʼs long history. Today we embark on our next phase of growth, on the site in Shannon we have occupied for over 55 years.

This building is a testament to the dedication of very many people over several decades, built on a strong culture of loyalty, respect, commitment and long service.”

Ei Electronics Manufacturing Director Jim Duignan, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Ei Electronics CEO Mick Guinee

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i Electronics Group Headquarters in reate 200 Jobs.

The Companyʼs Irish sales operation www.eielectronics.ie had grown steadily in recent years, occupying a leadership position and the supplier of choice for installers and wholesalers alike.

Ei Electronics Ireland Country Manager Tom Meehan An Taoiseach Micheál Martin Ei Electronics CEO Mick Guinee and Technical Sales Manager Sean Meally

Ireland Country Manager, Tom Meehan said “The new state-of-the-art facility here in Shannon means a bright future for our loyal Irish customer base. The additional manufacturing capacity will position our Irish sales and support team to offer Irish customers best in class support and service into the future. In line with our Sustainability strategy, the building is also one of the first Near Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) in Shannon.”

Ei ranks as one of Irelandʼs largest indigenous manufacturing and exporting electronics Companies. It occupies a 32,000m2 campus in Shannon where all business functions are headquartered; R&D, Sales and Marketing, Manufacturing, Customer Service and Finance & Admin.

With customers in over 30 countries worldwide, Ei also employs an additional 100 people in its 5 wholly owned overseas subsidiaries in the UK, Germany, France, the USA and Poland, bringing total headcount today to over 1,100. Over 90% of turnover is accounted for by exports, the primary overseas markets today being the UK, Germany, USA, The Netherlands and Australia.

The Company has also recently completed the expansion of its Shannon Campus. The new development comprises a 3 storey, 10,000m2 building adjoining its existing headquarters. It includes additional manufacturing capacity, R&D, and office space, to significantly expand its current production capacity. The expansion plans underpin a strategy of maintaining 100% of manufacturing in Shannon, in addition to the colocation of other key functions on a single site.

January 2020 saw the opening of its new UK Headquarters in Oswestry, Shropshire. This also co-incided with the 30th anniversary of Eiʼs UK subsidiary Aico. This came on the back of an expansion of Eiʼs German facility in 2019.

July 2020 saw the acquisition of Bristol based Company HomeLINK to further expand Eiʼs footprint in the Connected Home and IOT arena. A suite of Environmental Sensor solutions developed jointly by Ei and HomeLINK were brought to market in the middle of 2021.

Over the years the Ei has added a range of value-added monitoring, management and data extraction software tools to its product suite to enable interconnectivity between devices and local and remote control of complete installations. The most recent Gateway and Remote Inspection product launches mark the transition to the cloud-based management of systems, further increasing ease of management and compliance, and reducing overall cost of ownership.

Eiʼs fire detection and carbon monoxide products have been keeping families safe in their homes for generations – both in Ireland and globally. Today, as the Company embarks on its next phase of double digit growth, its core sensor technology will ensure it remains at the forefront of emerging cloud-based “Connected Home” and IOT developments.

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Government launches the National Retrofitting Scheme 1. New Home Energy Upgrade Scheme 2. Increased grant rates and supports for step-by-step home upgrades 3. Free home energy upgrade: Protecting people at most risk of energy poverty 4. Grants, equivalent to 80% of the typical cost, for attic and cavity wall insulation 5. Community schemes: Improving buildings across the country 6. Long-term funding commitment: Providing certainty for the home energy upgrade sector 7. National climate action goals 8. Notes The government has approved a package of supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills.

The measures address barriers to undertaking energy upgrades (retrofits) reported by homeowners and those working in the industry. They also reflect the step-change needed – in pace and scale of delivery – to achieve our target of 500,000 home energy upgrades, to B2 Building Energy Rating (BER) standard, by 2030.

The changes represent an important step in delivery of the National Retrofit Plan, which identifies a range of measures aimed at driving demand for retrofit, expanding the size and capacity of the supply chain, as well as making retrofits more affordable.

The key measures include: a new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme providing increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical deep retrofit to a B2 BER standard (up from 30%-35% grants currently) One Stop Shops to offer a hassle-free, start-to-finish project management service, including access to financing, for home energy upgrades a significant increase in the number of free energy upgrades for those at risk of energy poverty (400 per month – up from an average of 177 per month in 2021) a special enhanced grant rate, equivalent to 80% of the typical cost, for attic and cavity wall insulation for all households, to urgently reduce energy use as part of the governmentʼs response to current exceptionally high energy prices 50an Exchequer investment of €8 billion to 2030 will enable the supply chain to scale up, creating thousands of high quality jobs and delivering on this critical national objective The Schemes will be administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The increased grant supports and the significant ramping up of free energy upgrades for those at risk of energy poverty is supported by ring-fenced funds from the carbon tax.

The main features of todayʼs announcement are as follows: New Home Energy Upgrade Scheme The new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme offers increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade with a heat pump (up from the current level of 30-35%). The scheme introduces a hassle free way to undertake home energy upgrades with One-Stop-Shops providing an end-toend service for homeowners. This includes surveying the home; designing the upgrades; managing the grant process; helping with access to finance; engaging contractors to deliver the work; and quality assuring the work.

Homes owned by private homeowners, non-corporate landlords and Approved Housing Bodies are eligible for the scheme. This provides an unprecedented opportunity for people all over Ireland to upgrade to a warmer, healthier and more comfortable home, with lower energy bills.

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Increased grant rates and supports for step-by-step home upgrades Grant supports (under the Better Energy Homes Scheme) for homeowners that want to take a step-by-step approach to upgrading their homes have also been significantly increased. For instance, the grant for heat pumps has increased from €3,500 to €6,500 and the rate for external wall insulation has increased from €6,000 to €8,000 for a detached house. These figures specifically relate to grant amounts for this step-bystep approach.

See the full list of measures and grants.

Free home energy upgrade: Protecting people at most risk of energy poverty The Warmer Homes Scheme offers free energy upgrades for eligible homeowners who are most at risk of energy poverty. Since 2000, over 143,000 free upgrades have been supported by the scheme.

A budget allocation of €109 million has been provided for this scheme this year. This will support an increase in the number of free home upgrades, from an average of 177 per month in 2021 to 400 per month this year, helping to reduce waiting times. The scheme will also target the worst performing properties, by prioritising homes that were built and occupied before 1993 and have a pre-works BER of E, F or G. Existing applications will not be affected by this change. For the first time, applications will be accepted from qualifying homeowners who previously received supports under the scheme, but who could still benefit from even deeper measures.

The scheme eligibility criteria will also be extended to include those in receipt of the Disability Allowance for over 6 months and have a child under 7 years. Grants, equivalent to 80% of the typical cost, for attic and cavity wall insulation Grants for cavity wall and attic insulation will more than triple, as part of the governmentʼs response to the current exceptionally high energy prices. For instance, in the case of a semi-detached home, the attic insulation grant will increase from €400 to €1,300 and the cavity wall insulation grant will increase from €400 to €1,200. These are highly cost-effective upgrade measures that can be deployed rapidly and at scale this year. It is expected that these works will pay back in 1-2 years in most houses.

The new grant rates will cover approximately 80% of the typical cost of these measures and will be available to all homeowners.

Community schemes: Improving buildings across the country. Under the Community Energy Grant Scheme, grants are available for public, commercial and community buildings. These include buildings within housing associations and local authorities; rental properties; and buildings belonging to public sector organisations. The total budget for this scheme will be €43 million in 2022 (of which approximately €15 million will relate to home retrofits). Grants of up to 80% are available under this scheme – for private, energy-poor homeowners.

Long-term funding commitment: Providing certainty for the home energy upgrade sector Retrofitting our housing stock is a key element of the governmentʼs plans for economic growth and development. The unprecedented €8 billion of National Development Plan funding (including €5 billion in carbon tax revenues) available to support residential upgrades (to 2030) will stimulate the creation of highquality jobs throughout the country. It will also have a significant multiplier effect, supporting the development of associated supply chains. This will help to support a just transition to a carbon neutral society.

A total of €267 million (of which €202 million is carbon tax receipts) has been allocated for SEAI residential and community schemes in 2022. This investment will support almost 27,000 home energy upgrades, including over 8,600 homes to a BER of B2 (a near doubling of B2 output over 2021) and 4,800 free energy upgrades for households at risk of energy poverty.

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In addition, €85 million funding has been provided by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for the Local Authority Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme. This investment is targeted to deliver 2,400 B2 (or equivalent cost optimal) upgrades this year. Of the total government retrofit budget of €352 million, €203 million (58%) will be spent on dedicated energy poverty schemes and local authority retrofits.

National climate action goals The suite of home energy upgrade programmes announced today will be central to the achievement of our broader climate targets, as a country. The Climate Action Plan 2021 set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the residential sector – from 7 Mt CO2 eq. in 2018 to between 3.5-4.5 Mt CO2 eq. in 2030.

Todayʼs announcement is a key step on this journey. An evidenceinformed approach will continually inform the scheme design over time, ensuring that the best supports are in place to support homes across Ireland to be more energy efficient and, ultimately, to decarbonise.

Speaking at the launch of the new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, the Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “Today, the government is committing to support people in making their homes warmer and less expensive to heat, while also tackling our climate change crisis. The Irish people responded collectively, and with a sense of purpose, to the pandemic by helping protect the most vulnerable in our society. The climate crisis is just as critical for our children and future generations, as well as people at risk of fuel poverty now.

This governmentʼs commitment to reaching our climate ambitions is clear, and today is another step along that journey.”

The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar, said: “This scheme will create thousands of jobs in every county in the country making homes warmer, more comfortable and healthier. Iʼm glad to see the move towards a much more streamlined, customer focused model, with the One Stop Shops making it much easier for people to see what they need to do and how they can get funding. The long term commitment of government funding and our investment in apprenticeships and skills training will allow the industry to build capacity, as well as all other aspects of the supply chain.”

The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and Transport, Eamon Ryan, said: “The urgent nature of the climate crisis and the energy price crisis means that we must act to reduce our energy use and to reduce the cost of heating our homes. The unprecedent commitment from the government, and indeed all politicians in Ireland, to focus on improving our homes as a centre-piece of climate action is demonstrated here today. We have a 30-year task of transforming our homes. Todayʼs launch is the one of the key steps we need to take to insulate ourselves from international price volatility and the geopolitics of international energy markets.”

Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, Chief Executive Officer, William Walsh said: “SEAI, through government funding, has already supported 450,000 home energy upgrades. Todayʼs announcement by the government demonstrates its commitment to assisting homeowners by making home energy upgrades more accessible and affordable. Through these new measures we look forward to supporting homeowners to achieve a warmer, cosier home, with lower energy bills, while also helping to achieve Irelandʼs ambitious climate targets.” https://www.localauthoritynews.ie/2022/02/21/government-launches-the-national-retrofitting-scheme/

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Ryan Plans for Acceleration in Active Travel Post-Covid The Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan T.D., has confirmed that the National Transport Authority (NTA) has allocated funds to Irelandʼs local authorities with a view to spending €289 million on walking and cycling infrastructure in 2022.

Projects to be delivered this year include the Clontarf to City Centre route in Dublin, MacCurtain Street in Cork, OʼConnell Street in Limerick, the Salmon Weir Bridge in Galway, as well as connection of the Waterford Greenway from Bilberry into the City Centre. These and other projects will make our urban centres more attractive places to live, work and visit. It is good for public health and the environment and promotes the most economic and efficient transport system.

Funding is also being directed to rural local authorities, with circa 1,200 walking and cycling projects being developed by local authorities across the country. Projects include the Hanover Pedestrian and Cycle Scheme in Carlow and the N63 pedestrian and cycle scheme in Longford, among many other examples. This will bring a renewed vibrancy to our regional towns and villages.

Minister Eamon Ryan commented “It is great to see our investment in active travel starting to bear fruit. I want us to now accelerate delivery of sustainable transport modes as we come out of the majority of Covid restrictions. It is vital that we do not allow a return to gridlock as we come out of the pandemic. We need to use the switch to remote working as an opportunity to reallocate road space to create a safer and more efficient transport system.”

“Local authorities and the NTA have been provided with an unprecedented increase in funding for additional staff for active travel. I will be bringing forward further amendments to the Road Traffic and Roads bill in the coming weeks, which will also enable them to progress experimental traffic management schemes and other measures which fast track active travel infrastructure. We need to be quick, to help reduce our climate emissions but also to use this unique moment in time to create a more attractive and safer local environment.”

Minister of State at the Department of Transport Hildegarde Naughton T.D. welcomed this meaningful investment stating: “Today, over 1,200 projects across the length and breadth of the country are set to receive targeted funding towards making walking and cycling in our villages, towns and cities safe and sustainable.

As we continue to meet our commitment of spending almost €1 million on walking and cycling projects each day, I am particularly happy to confirm that the schools participating in Phase 1 of our new Safe Routes to School Programme will also benefit. With 170 schools currently progressing plans customised to their specific needs and challenges, the Safe Routes to School Programme is delivering infrastructure on the route to and in front of our schools making it easier for children, parents and teachers to safely walk, cycle and scoot to school every day.”

Anne Graham, CEO of the NTA said: “Itʼs great to be in position once again this year to make such a substantial investment in infrastructure for active travel. The funding we are announcing today will support the provision of walking and cycling facilities in every part of the country. More people than ever want to cycle and walk as part of their daily journey, and it is incumbent on us to encourage them to precisely do that, so they can leave the car behind. This investment will make a big difference, not just in our major cities, but in towns and villages across Ireland. We will work with our partners in the local authorities to ensure that the projects announced today become a reality as soon as possible.” https://www.nationaltransport.ie/publication/active-travel-investment-grants-list-of-projects-2022/

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Grant leads the way to Innovation success Leading home heating solutions company Grant has been announced as a finalist in the sustainability category of The Irish Times Innovation Awards 2021.

Operating at the forefront of the heating industry for over 40 years, with their cutting edge sustainable and innovative product development, Grant is a trusted brand for homeowners throughout the country and has been nominated for their highly efficient HVO biofuel compatible Vortex condensing boiler range.

Grant Founder, Stephen Grant

Looking to the future and supporting the Climate Action Plan for over 50% reduction in emissions by 2030, Grant demonstrated its commitment to innovation and sustainability by embarking on an R&D project, representing an investment of over €250,000, to help existing rural and hard to heat homes reduce carbon emissions and help prevent homeowners from incurring the high cost and subsequent disruption to daily life of deep retrofitting.

Founder, Stephen Grant said: “We are delighted to be recognised for our innovation. Our breakthrough in the research and development of HVO-ready condensing boilers means that we have largely transformed to a renewable heating company with our portfolio including ranges of biofuel ready condensing boilers, condensing pellet boilers, solar thermal panels, underfloor heating, hot water cylinders, aluminium radiators, and air to water air source heat pumps. As a company we remain committed to helping homeowners throughout Ireland reduce their carbon footprint and futureproof their homes.”

Grant Vortex utility 26kW model (left) & Grant Vortex boiler house 26kW model

Stephen continues, “The HVO biofuel compatible Grant Vortex range of condensing boilers has the ability to help decarbonise over one million liquid fuelled homes in Ireland, in particular those off grid with poor thermal efficiency. Utilising HVO for heating will also help Ireland to significantly decarbonise existing residential homes, at a cost of approximately €500 per existing oil boiler installation when matching and changing to a new biofuel burner and substantially less if the boiler is already biofuel ready.”

About the Grant Vortex Highly efficient Available in outputs of 12-70kW 63 models within the range Boiler house, outdoor, utility and wall hung variants HVO biofuel compatible The Irish Times Innovation Awards aim to recognise and promote the best service, product, or operational innovations throughout the island. The finalists were selected by an independent panel of judges to secure a place at the final and a chance to win the overall ʻInnovation of the Yearʼ award as well as a unique and highprofile communications and advertising package worth €100,000. Category Winners will receive a €10,000 communications package in Business+Innovation and a one-year premium digital subscription to The Irish Times.

For further information visit grant.eu 23

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Dublin City Council launches dedicated Telecoms Unit to accelerate digital infrastructure investments and 5G potential.

Dublin City Council (DCC) has launched a new Telecoms Unit to accelerate the rollout of digital infrastructure and 5G deployments across the city. The Unit will offer a ʻone stop shopʼ service to support the delivery of telecoms both underground (ducting) and over ground (supporting mobile and wireless services). With 5G services expected to facilitate a new wave of innovation and economic growth, DCC is making sure Dublin is not left behind. The establishment of the Unit will also assist DCC in meeting its obligations under the ʻEuropean Electronic Communication Codeʼ.

The Telecoms Unit within DCC will support the deployment of telecoms, creating a central point of contact within the organisation and allow for better use of DCC owned assets both above and below the ground. The remit of the Unit will ensure that future capital investments and infrastructure projects are ʻtelecomsʼ proofed.

The Unit will work alongside the DCCʼs Smart City Team to make sure that there is an associated innovation work programme that will leverage these investments, while also supporting the ambition of the National Digital Strategy.

The establishment of the Telecoms Unit is the culmination of collaborative work with the SFI CONNECT Research Centre for Future Networks and Connectivity hosted at Trinity College Dublin and the Telecoms Infra Project (TIP), which is a consortium of telecoms operators internationally working to accelerate the deployment of open and disaggregated network solutions and high-speed wireless connectivity.

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Owen Keegan, Chief Executive, DCC, stated: “Digital connectivity infrastructure, both fixed and wireless, plays a critical and increasingly important role in Dublin's economic development. Covid-19 has reinforced the importance of connectivity in our cities and towns. Having the right type of connectivity is also essential for Dublinʼs future competitiveness. We are entering a new era of super connectivity with the emergence of fifth generation (5G) mobile networks. Local authorities have an important role to play in supporting the rollout of these networks. Telecomʼs infrastructure is now seen as an essential utility just like water and electricity. Dublin as Irelandʼs capital city needs to position itself as a leader in digital infrastructure to realise its potential and support the connectivity needs of residents, businesses and communities.”

Vish Mathur, Global Head of Engagement at the Telecoms Intra Project commented on the collaboration: “The Telecom Infra Project is delighted to have worked with Dublin City Council and the CONNECT Research Centre to develop a model of best practice for other cities to follow in how they support telecoms, and street level mobile networks deployments in particular. We are excited to help other cities accelerate the transformation of their mobile networks by using the blueprints and playbooks we have created for how telecoms operators, infrastructure providers and cities can work together” Mr. Ossian Smyth, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate Change and Communications, with responsibility for Communications and Circular Economy stated: “I am delighted to see Dublin City Council lead the way with the establishment of a dedicated Telecoms Unit to support the ambition of our National Digital Strategy. It is also great to see the Council collaborate alongside academia and industry partners to future proof the city. This initiative will support the delivery of new services and innovations which will bring significant benefits to communities and residents. Through National Broadband Ireland we are also investing over €48 million to connect 12,200 premises across the Dublin City Council area to high-speed connectivity over the coming 3 years. We need to make sure everyone is able to benefit from high-speed broadband if we are to realise the full benefits.”

Prof. Dan Kilper, Director of the CONNECT Research Centre and Professor of Future Communication Networks at Trinity College Dublin commented on the partnership: “Dublin City Councilʼs vision and leadership in its telecoms and Smart City programs have received global attention. Through our Enable Smart Cities Research Programme and OpenIreland Smart Network, CONNECT works closely with them to deliver innovative solutions for Dubliners and Ireland broadly. The launch of a dedicated Telecoms Unit will strengthen their impact and enable the CONNECT research and education engine to better deliver innovations and build the workforce in these high growth tech areas. We further join with DCC in their commitment to serve all communities equitably.”

Heather Humphries, T.D., Minister for Rural and Community Development stated: “Dublin City Councilʼs new Telecoms Unit is a very welcome development. For several years DCC, through their Broadband Officer and Smart City programme have played a leading role in trialling and deploying innovative digital technologies.

They have shared their findings with colleagues across the country and have also fed into the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce. The establishment of this unit is a significant development. It recognises that deploying telecoms equipment in the public realm is a complex task that needs an expert coordinating body. I am sure that many local authorities, urban and rural, will follow the progress of the DCC Telecoms Unit with great interest.”

Positive Coverage Positive Achievements Tel: 00353 46 9072841 Email: info@localauthoritynews.ie Website: www.localauthoritynews.ie

GILTRON LTD

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ata from Bluesky Internationalʼs National Tree Map (NTM) is being used by Waterford City and County Council to help benchmark tree cover across the city and to look at suitable tree planting sites as it progresses with its target to become Irelandʼs first decarbonised city.

Derived from high resolution aerial photography, NTM data is informing policy and budgets at the Council and is an integral part of the City and County Development Plan for 2020-2028.

D

“Trees are an essential part of our green infrastructure capturing and storing carbon. However, they also provide essential habitats, reduce flood risk, positively impact health, increase property values, cool cities and reduce air pollution,” commented Jon Hawkins, IS Project Leader responsible for GIS Projects at Waterford City and County Council. “To achieve our ambitions to be one of the lead cities in Europe in terms of carbon neutrality we must understand our starting point in terms of tree coverage.”

NTM data highlights existing tree cover across the Councilʼs administrative area (1,857 sqkm). Using the FME (Feature Manipulation Engine) data integration tool from Safe Software, alongside desktop geographical information system (GIS) ArcGIS Pro software from Esri, the data was interrogated, calculating the percentage of tree cover for all 38 electoral divisions in the city area (42 sqkm). Initial results showed current cover averaged at 12 percent.

Using Blueskyʼs data, alongside land use zonings from the Councilʼs Development Plan and land type classifications from Ordnance Survey, potential sites are being identified for tree planting to increase canopy cover to 20 percent

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Pipelife Eco - Irelandʼs #1 Supplier of Eco Heating Solutions Pipelife Eco is Irelandʼs leading designer and supplier of thousands of Home Heating Solutions each year. The Pipelife Eco team work with everyone from homeowners, contractors, architects & consulting engineers across the country in projects ranging from residential homes, offices, hospitals, nursing homes, to warehouses, car showrooms and other commercial & industrial buildings.

Pipelife has recently launched a new Home Heating Solutions website that outlines all the different heating options available to heat a home. The website explains in detailed 3D videos the different types of heating systems in the simplest way possible so homeowners and installers can make the most informed decision about the type of system that will work best for their needs.

Padjoe Barry, National Sales Manager, commented “Building a house can be quite daunting and within that the heating system that is chosen for a home is one of the most important investment decisions a homeowner will make. Heating your home represents the largest annual running cost you will have in ensuring your familyʼs comfort over many years. The heating system you choose and the supplier you choose to provide it are decisions that will impact on you for decades to come.”

The purpose of the website is to give homeowners but also installers a point of reference that they can send their customers to, to learn about the different heating systems available, the pitfalls to watch out for, the quality of all the components used in your heating solution is critical to its long successful operation and the recommended system the Pipelife would recommend.

At Pipelife Eco we believe in providing our customers with a one stop-shop for complete package solutions; from market-leading products, free initial advice, through to bespoke design, final commissioning, and technical support, allowing you to purchase with confidence.

Multiple Package Solutions Design Service Pipelife has a team of Design Engineers ready to assist in the design, sale and installation of a variety of water/energy efficient systems. Our Renewables Division covers every aspect of underfloor heating and integrated renewables and deliver fully designed, energy efficient systems to a range of Installers, Developers, Builders, Engineers & Architects. We have a proven track record of 20 yearsʼ service and commitment to the industry backed by exceptionally trained staff and a dedicated technical backup service.

Whether youʼre building a new house, adding an extension or renovating your home, we can help you find the right system for your project

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As Underfloor Heating is now the most common method of heating homes in Ireland today it is important to note that the most critical component of an underfloor heating system is the pipework that will be buried in the concrete floor of your home. Once installed this pipework will be encased and inaccessible for the lifetime of your home. Any problems associated with this pipework would entail the floor of your home being dug up causing massive disruption.

It is critical that all components used, but especially the pipework, are top quality and fully backed by reputable manufacturers. Pipelife is the only supplier that manufactures itʼs own specialised underfloor heating pipe in Ireland. We offer our Guaranteed Irish Qual-Pex Plus+ ʻEasy-Layʼ Multilayer Pipe with a 50 year guarantee!

We provide full design indemnity insurance on all our heating solution systems so you can rest assured our system will deliver on what we promise, providing you with a home heating solution you can rely on for decades to come, safe in the knowledge we will always be there to support you if the need ever arises.

The nationwide Pipelife Eco team of experienced design and technical service engineers always provides complete support to installers to ensure successful completion of Pipelife ECO projects.

Pipelife is a company with annual revenues of €1bn a year. We operate in 28 countries and employ 3,000 employeeʼs in 28 manufacturing locations. Pipelife is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Wienerberger Group, with group revenues of over €4bn per year and 16,000 employeeʼs worldwide.

This long history plus the financial strength of Pipelife is the best guarantee we can offer you that we will be there to support our products over the long lifetimes expected of those products.

For more information and to talk to our team call us on 021 488 4700 or e-mail us at ireland@pipelife.com and check out our website www.pipelifeeco.ie

Put your trust in Pipelife – 50 years of proud Irish manufacturing & serving the Irish plumbing & Heating industry.

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Unleashing Powerful Data Analytics to Support Social Housing Retrofit Combining BER data, GIS, and data analytics, RetroKitʼs cloud-based software solution supports you to scale your energy upgrade strategy. Taking you from planning to action in a much shorter timeframe. The software can prioritise based on specific parameters e.g. BER rating, Heat Loss Indicators, CO2 emissions, energy costs, and dwelling archetype.

Recently utilised by Cork City Council, Brian Cassidy, Senior Executive Engineer, highlighted how RetroKit saved time and resources, “Where once this [the social housing stock study] would have been a resource-heavy undertaking, we are now able to complete a detailed analysis of our housing stock at the tap of a button that gives us highly detailed information”.

Retrokit CEO, Xavier Dubuisson

Through robust data, powerful analytics, and software that is user-friendly, RetroKit can reduce planning costs of large-scale energy retrofit projects significantly in terms of staff time and consultants' costs, resulting in better investment decisions. Whether at planning stage or preparing a funding application, RetroKit can support you. RetroKit is a “trusted partner” of SEAI, and can ʻtalk toʼ SEAIʼs national database, delivering your tailored energy housing stock database within 24 hours. The RetroKit team has a stand at the upcoming SEAI Energy on the 30/31st March. We look forward to welcome you there.

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Cork County Council Leads €53 million Public Lighting Energy Efficiency Project for the South West Region Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Gillian Coughlan has welcomed the contract signing of the Public Lighting Energy Efficiency Project for the South West Region (PLEEP-SW) which will see five local authorities invest €53 million in upgrading their public lighting.

Led by Cork County Council, PLEEP South West will upgrade 77,162 public lights across the regionʼs local authorities, Cork County Council, Clare County Council, Kerry County Council, Limerick City & County Council and Waterford City & County Council, as well as Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

Part of a National Public Lighting Energy Efficiency Project, twentyone local authorities will collaborate in the upgrading of approximately 220,000 public lights to LED. Once complete, the project is set to reduce CO2 emissions by 22,000 tonnes each year, while saving the local authorities €12m in energy and maintenance costs annually.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Gillian Coughlan highlighted how, “Once complete, the South West regional project is predicted to reduce CO2 emissions by 5,000 tonnes each year, while saving the five local authorities €5m in energy and maintenance costs annually and helping to meet energy efficient targets. The project will also survey and collect data on the condition of the public lighting infrastructure to enable local authorities to plan and invest in the upgrading of public lighting for our communities into the future.”

Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey added, “Cork County Council is proud to lead the first phase of the national Public Lighting Energy Efficiency Project. Local authorities are committed to leading on climate action, reducing carbon emissions in our operations and meeting our energy efficiency targets. This project takes a big step in that direction as public lighting currently accounts for half of all the energy used by local authorities. Retrofitting public lighting to LED is not only good for the planet, it will also save us up to 55% on our energy and maintenance costs, while improving light quality. Advancements in LED technology allow for an improved visual environment, enhanced public safety and reduced light pollution.”

Noel Cummins, Contracts Director, Le Cheile Consortium, Enerveo said, “On behalf of the Le Chéile Consortium, we are delighted to be leading the first phase of the Public Lighting Energy Efficiency Project alongside Cork County Council. The project highlights the commitment of both the region and the government to climate action and the need for urgent measures to be taken and will have a positive impact on every community across the South West Region by improving light quality, reducing CO2 emissions and having a significant impact on energy costs of up to 55%. All of the companies involved in the consortium have a long history providing energy saving solutions to Local Authorities across Ireland, and we look forward to commencing the project and contributing towards a more sustainable Ireland by making it both smarter and greener”.

Following a competitive tender process, the contract for the Public Lighting Energy Efficiency Project South West Region (PLEEP-SW) was signed between Cork County Council and Le Chéile Consortium, comprised of Enerveo Ireland Ltd, Al Read Electrical Ireland Ltd & Electric Skyline Ltd.

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Works progress with new state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant for Arklow

Irish Water, working in partnership with Wicklow County Council, continues to progress works on a new stateof-the-art wastewater treatment plant in Arklow, a landmark project that will provide wastewater treatment for the first time for the area. When completed, the treatment plant will bring significant benefits to the local community in terms of protecting the environment and improving water quality in the River Avoca for angling, water sports and marine life. It will also act as an enabler for housing and support economic growth and development in the town.

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Works are progressing well and construction will begin on the South Quay in the coming weeks. To ensure the safety of crews and the public, a number of traffic management measures will be in place and the junction of Harbour Road and South Quay will be closed from today, Monday, 7 February. During the works, there will be no left turn from Harbour Road onto South Quay. There will also be works at the junction of South Green and South Quay where access to the South Quay will be restricted to local traffic. Works will include tree felling, services diversions and construction of tunnelling shafts which will facilitate the new sewer pipeline.

Local and emergency access will be maintained at all times throughout the work. Works on the North Quays are progressing well and will continue over the coming weeks with current traffic management remaining in place. Irish Water and Wicklow County Council would like to thank all businesses and residents for their continued cooperation during these essential works and regret any inconvenience caused.

Speaking about the works, Michael Tinsley, Portfolio Delivery Manager with Irish Water, said “We are delighted to announce that works on this essential project are progressing well and we look forward to starting the next phase of works along the South Quay. Eliminating the discharge of untreated wastewater into the River Avoca has always been a priority for Irish Water and we are committed to ending this current practice and safeguarding water quality in the river and marine environment.

On the benefits to the local community, Michael added, “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 on behalf of Irish Water, I would like to thank businesses and residents for their ongoing support and cooperation as we progress this vital project”.

The project, which is being carried out by Ward and Burke Water Limited on behalf of Irish Water, represents an investment of €139 million and includes 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. This project marks another major milestone in Irish Waterʼs work to end the unacceptable practice of discharging untreated sewage into our waterways and sea. More than half of all the raw sewage discharges have been eliminated since the establishment of Irish Water in 2014 and Arklow is the largest remaining town without treatment. The commencement of this project and the progress made throughout 2021 and next means that we are on track to eliminate the vast majority of raw sewage discharges by 2025. For more information, visit our Arklow Wastewater Treatment Plant project page.

Irish Water is committed to keeping customers informed about their water and wastewater supplies across multiple platforms 24/7 and we encourage customers to engage with us on Twitter @IWCare, through our customer care helpline which is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and by setting their location on our website.

Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of all public water and wastewater services in Ireland. We are committed to continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support the growth needed in housing and across our economy, while protecting the environment and safeguarding water supplies.

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Works on new Wastewater Treatment Plants completed in Dripsey and Coachford Today marks a momentous occasion as Irish Water, working in partnership with Cork County Council, mark the completion on the construction of two new, state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plants in Dripsey and Coachford.

Both areas were previously served by overloaded and outdated wastewater treatment infrastructure and therefore new wastewater treatment plants and network upgrades were required.

The new plants will bring significant benefits to both areas, enhancing the local environment and providing the platform for ongoing growth and development. Both plants are designed to comply with the Emission Limit Values in the Wastewater Discharge Authorisation and to provide capacity for the projected residential growth in the National Planning Framework and draft County Development Plan.

Irish Water Delivery Lead for the projects, Seamus Glynn said, “This is a great day for the communities of Dripsey and Coachford. “These are very important projects for us to have completed in terms of accommodating future population growth in both areas and protecting the environmental quality of the Drispey River and the River Lee. “These projects will support the growth of the surrounding areas in line with the governmentʼs Housing for All policy and enhance local amenities for years to come.”

The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Gillian Coughlan welcomed the announcement highlighting how, “The confirmation of new treatment plant infrastructure will bring significant benefits the people of Dripsey and Coachford from an environmental, economic and social perspective. In partnership with Irish Water, Cork County Council always welcomes such infrastructure which bring real benefit to local communities.”

In Drispey, the project involved the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant and upgrades to the sewer networks to serve Dripsey and the surrounding local area, serving a population equivalent of approximately 600 people. The project also involved the rehabilitation and replacement of gravity mains, installing a new outfall pipe, and decommission and demolition of the existing wastewater treatment plant.

In Coachford, the project involved the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant, which will serve a population equivalent of approximately 1,600. The project also involved upgrading the sewer network and construction of a new outfall pipeline and decommissioning and demolition of the existing septic tank on the site.

Both projects, carried out by EPS group on behalf of Irish Water, are part of a €27 million investment in the construction of new wastewater infrastructure in the Cork mid-West area.

Other projects include: • Baile Bhúirne/Baile Mhic Íre Wastewater Treatment Plant – project completed • Innishannon Wastewater Treatment Plant - expected completion in Q2 2022 These projects will improve the wastewater treatment quality and capacity and ensure compliance with wastewater discharge regulations. All new infrastructure is sized to accommodate future population growth of the villages and the surrounding Cork Mid-West areas.

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€3m wastewater upgrade project gets underway in Ahascragh

Works to upgrade Ahascragh Wastewater Treatment Plant and end the discharge of inadequately treated wastewater into the Bunowen River has commenced. Irish Water, in partnership with Galway County Council, are upgrading the plant to provide treatment to serve a population equivalent of 470. This equates to stopping more than 300 wheelie bins of inadequately treated wastewater being discharged into the Bunowen (Ahascragh) River every day.

Once operational, the upgraded plant and associated infrastructure will not only ensure compliance with wastewater discharge regulations and improve water quality in the Bunowen River but it will also act as a platform for social and economic development.

Coffey Water Limited is delivering the works on behalf of Irish Water and works are expected to be completed

by Spring 2023.

Outlining the project, Patrick Greene, Regional Infrastructure Lead with Irish Water, said: “We are looking forward to delivering this important project on behalf of the local community. This €3 million euro investment will involve the upgrade of the existing wastewater treatment plant to provide secondary treatment as well as improvements to the storm water overflow and existing main pumping station. These works will enhance Ahascraghʼs amenity value and provide a platform for social and economic development well into the future.”

Commenting on the commencement of the project, Martina Connaughton, Senior Executive Engineer said, “Galway County Council welcomes the commencement of this crucial project which is being progressed by Irish Water with the support of Galway County Councilʼs Capital Team. The upgrade works to the wastewater treatment plant will help to preserve the wonderful amenity of the Bunowen River and its hinterland while allowing for the sustainable development of a thriving community in Ahascragh.”

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.

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Vartry Water Supply Scheme removed from list of ʻat riskʼ supplies following works Almost 130,000 water customers in Wicklow and South Dublin received good news this week following the removal of seven water supplies by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from their Remedial Action List.

The Remedial Action List identifies drinking water supplies that are at risk of failing to consistently supply safe, clean drinking water. The seven water supplies which form part of the Vartry Water Supply Scheme were removed by the EPA following extensive investment and upgrade works by Irish Water working in partnership with Wicklow County Council, Dublin City Council and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

Irish Water recently completed construction on a new, state-of-the-art water treatment plant in Vartry. The completion of the new water treatment plant marked the culmination of a total investment of €150 million in the upgrade of the Vartry Water Supply Scheme. This has not only ensured the removal of Vartry and associated supplies from the EPAʼs RAL, it has also ensured a safe and sustainable water supply for more than 200,000 people overall across Bray, Wicklow Town, Enniskerry, Greystones and South Dublin now and into the future. For more information on the project, visit our Vartry Water Supply Scheme project page.

Works are continuing on the two remaining Wicklow supplies with a view to having them removed from the RAL as soon as possible. Irish Water has commenced detailed design on a project to rationalise both the Ballymorris and Aughrim / Annacurra water supplies to the Arklow Water Supply Zone. The project will ensure a safer and more reliable water supply for customers in both areas while facilitating growth and development and represents an investment by Irish Water of €6.3m. The project is expected to be completed in 2023 and further details and timelines will be confirmed later in the design process.

Peter Thornton, Asset Operations Lead with Irish Water, commented: “Irish Water is committed to ensuring that all our customers have safe, clean drinking water. This is a significant challenge due to decades of underinvestment in our water infrastructure, but we are making steady progress, with approximately 127,000 people in Wicklow and South Dublin now removed from the Remedial Action List.

“Nationally, the numbers of customers on the list continue to fall. Overall 16 supplies have been removed from the list in the past year, serving a total of 790,000 customers. We are working in partnership with Local Authorities to address issues with the supplies which remain on the list and to bring them to a standard where the EPA determines that they can be removed.”

As a single national utility, Irish Water has been able to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the performance of Irelandʼs drinking water treatment plants and focus investment where the risk to our customers is highest. Nationally Irish Water is investing €5.2 billion in drinking water and wastewater quality and capacity and new infrastructure between 2020 and 2024. Significant improvements in water quality are being achieved year on year by this approach right across the country.

The Remedial Action List is updated quarterly by the EPA for those water supplies where investment in treatment processes is required.

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Contract signing takes place for works to commence on Kilmore Quay Sewerage Scheme Irish Water, working in partnership with Wexford County Council, will commence works on a new sewerage scheme and wastewater treatment infrastructure for Kilmore Quay in the coming weeks. It has been announced today that Jon Sisk and Sons Ltd. has signed the contract with Irish Water to carry out works on the utilityʼs behalf to end the discharge of raw sewage into the Eastern Celtic Sea with works on the project due for completion in 2024.

Once completed, the new sewer infrastructure will ensure compliance with wastewater discharge regulations.

It will also improve the performance of the sewer network and water quality in the receiving waters and the Celtic Irish Sea. The new scheme will involve the design and construction of a new wastewater treatment plant, underground pumping stations, pipelines, as well as testing and commissioning works. All new infrastructure will be sized to serve existing and future populations and the new wastewater infrastructure will enhance local amenities and provide a platform for social and economic development.

Speaking about today's milestone, Séamus Glynn, Regional Infrastructure Lead with Irish Water said; “We are looking forward to delivering this important project on behalf of the local community in Kilmore Quay.

This project will improve water quality around the quay and wider harbour area, enhance the amenity value of the coastal waters and ensure compliance with national and EU regulations relating to the treatment of urban wastewater.

“All new infrastructure has been sized to accommodate future population growth and will play an integral part in the development of Kilmore Quay.”

“We look forward to working with the local community to deliver this essential project with our partners in Wexford County Council and Jon Sisk & Sons Ltd.” Councillor Jim Moore, Chairman of the Rosslare Municipal District expressed his delight at the announcement of the contract signing by John Sisk & Son Ltd., which will see the commencement within the next two months of this long-awaited Wastewater Treatment Plant. Councillor Moore stated; “I am delighted to see this most welcome infrastructure which will give a huge impetus to the development of Kilmore Quay in terms of environment, industry, community, housing, and tourism. I would like to thank all concerned for their efforts in reaching this important milestone for Kilmore Quay and the surrounding district and region.”

Director of Services with Wexford County Council Eamonn Hore stated that; “It has been a long road to get to this point however the future is bright for Kilmore Quay following this fantastic news. Together with the current sewerage scheme works in Arthurstown, Ballyhack and Duncannon this represents a major improvement in Wastewater Treatment Infrastructure in County Wexford.”

Irish Water and our appointed Contractor, Jon Sisk & Sons Ltd. will be in contact with the local community in Kilmore Quay in advance of works commencing and throughout the delivery stage of the project.

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