A water scheme in the Dublin Suburb of Sandyford has been declared open.

Phil Hogan, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government opened the Sandyford High Level Water Scheme yesterday.

The scheme cost in the region of €15.6 million to build and fit-out with purpose of supplying an adequate amount of pure, fresh drinking water to the areas of Sandyford, Ballyogan, Stepaside and Kilternan.

The Minister said: "The scheme was money well spent. It will greatly improve the quality and reliability of the water supply to the areas and enhance the level of service to all consumers."

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Under the current Water Services Investment Programme, over €116m worth of major water and sewerage schemes have been funded.

Elsewhere in the county significant water-main rehabilitation work is underway to ensure that water supplied is not lost through unacceptable levels of leakage.

A water services infrastructural development is also taking place countrywide. The Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2012 is providing the funding to support this development.

In addition to its public health, environmental compliance and water conservation focus, this Programme has among its stated objectives the need to support economic and employment growth throughout the country. Exchequer funding of €435m has been provided for the Programme in 2011.

(LB/CD)