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A €5.8 billion spending plan on new water supply and waste water has been launched by Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley.
The National Development Water Plan Water Services Investment Programme includes 955 individual schemes to be advanced over the period of the Plan and beyond.
The Programme sets out specific targets for construction starts, up to the end of 2009. The investment will be coupled with a series of other measures which are aimed at protecting drinking water and our natural water resources.
"Ensuring there is clean water, not only in our taps, but also in our rivers, lakes and estuaries is a priority for me in Government," Minister Gormley said.
"Water is possibly our most precious resource. Some have described water as the blue arteries of the earth. It’s protection is an essential element in ensuring a sustainable Ireland in the future.
"Our aim is to bring about a situation whereby all our public drinking water supplies comply with European standards, and that all of our lakes and rivers are of good water quality. There is a considerable challenge; one which I believe can, and must, be achieved."
The Minister emphasised that the Water Services Investment Programme was a crucial element of the Government’s commitment to preserving and enhancing environmental standards generally. He said that it was also the key response to the undertaking in the Programme for Government for continued investment to ensure that public drinking water supplies delivered a service that was 100 per cent compliant with drinking water standards and that all waste water discharges into rivers, lakes and coastal waters met the highest national standards.
"The increased provision of €4.7 billion in the National Development Plan for water services infrastructure reflects the importance attached to this sector by the Government," the Minister said.
"The new infrastructure is an integral element of the range of measures being taken to protect our water resources."
(JM)
