Dublin City Council is to invite tenders for the €27m first phase of the Dublin Region Water-mains Rehabilitation Project.

The project is part of the Dublin City Council's Water Conservation Scheme for which Environment Minister John Gormley has allocated a total of €118m under his Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009.

The Minister said: "As part of a co-ordinated approach to arrest high levels of water leakage in the Dublin Region, the project involves the re-lining or replacement of water pipelines that are in poor physical condition.

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"The quality and reliability of the water supply to the public will be improved, providing better service levels to households as well as support for commercial and industrial activity," he said.

Overall, the Rehabilitation Project will see approximately 280km of pipeline either replaced or re-lined.

Mr Gormley said: "The way is now clear for Dublin City Council to seek tenders for the scheme and I will be asking them to do so without delay," said the Minister.

He confirmed that, subject to compliance with the approved budget, the Council will not require any further approvals from the Department and are free to award the contract and to proceed with the work as soon as the tender process has been completed.

The Minister said that his approval of funding for the scheme reflected the commitment in the Programme for Government that "all our public drinking water supplies will deliver a reliable service that is 100% compliant with drinking water standards."

(VB/JM)