Approval of Meath County Council's Preliminary Report for the Oldcastle Sewerage Scheme has been announced by Mr John Gormley, Dáil Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

The €5.5m scheme includes a modern new Wastewater Treatment Plant and an extensive upgrade of the sewage collection network. The new infrastructure will cater for a population equivalent of up to 3,500. Funding for the scheme is being provided by the Minister under his Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 to 2009.

Because of Oldcastle's proximity to the towns of Mullingar, Cavan, Kells and Navan there has been significant growth in new residential activity in recent years. The minister said the new sewerage scheme will facilitate current development proposals and also allow for further social and economic growth in the future.

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He added that it would also ensure that increased wastewater volumes did not present any risk to environmental standards.

"This scheme will put in place modern wastewater infrastructure that will be capable of meeting domestic and commercial demand in this thriving village for the foreseeable future," the Minister said.

He confirmed that the new treatment plant would operate to the high standards of the EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive and provide significant environmental benefits for residents of Oldcastlle and its environs.

The Minister said that his approval of the Preliminary Report also reflected the commitment in the Programme for Government for continuing investment in our wastewater schemes to ensure that discharges into our rivers, lakes and coastal waters meet the highest international standards.

Following the approval of the Preliminary Report, the next step is for Meath County Council to draw up Contract Documents with a view to advancing the scheme to tender stage as quickly as possible.

(GK/JM)