Mr John Gormley TD, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, has announced his approval for Meath County Council to place a €24m contract with E.P.S. Ltd to construct new wastewater treatment plants in Athboy/Rathcairn, Donore, Duleek, Kilmainhamwood, Moynalty, Rathmolyon and Summerhill as part of the Meath Grouped Towns & Villages Sewerage.

The Minister has allocated the funding for the scheme under his Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 – 2009.

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The new infrastructure has been designed to eliminate pollution, to deal with wastewater from the existing populations and to provide spare capacity to cater for future residential and commercial development.

Work has already started on the sewage collection networks in some of the towns and villages.

"The remaining collection networks and the new treatment plants will get underway over the next few months," the Minister said.

Overall the project will cost in the region of €37m.

The Minister said the scheme would "boost the local economy by providing a solid platform for the social and commercial development for many years to come."

The new treatment plants will meet the standards of the EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive and will provide significant environmental benefits for all of the communities involved.

(GK/JM)