Irish Minister of State Tony Killeen has welcomed the Government’s allocation of over €64,000 to help Clare County Council improve the quality of public water supplies.

The Junior Agriculture Minister confirmed that the funding from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, is being allocated to seven separate schemes throughout the county.

The schemes include O’Briensbridge (three sources including Ardtaggle) Public Water Supply Scheme (€10,485), Broadford Public Water Supply Scheme (€6,990) and the Turlough Public Water Supply (€3,495), which will each be fitted with a chlorine monitor and alarm.

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Ennistymon/Lisdoonvarna Public Water Supply Scheme (€9,375), Flagmount Public Water Supply Scheme (€9,375), Miltown Public Water Supply Scheme (€15,000) and Shannon Public Water Supply Scheme (€9,375) will also be fitted with a chlorine monitor and alarm, plus a turbidity meter on raw water, on each filter and on combined treated water.

Minister Killeen said: "Earlier this year the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a list of public water supplies where detailed profiling was required to guarantee safety and security of supply to consumers.

"As part of the strategy to deal with these supplies the Department has introduced a special contingency fund for local authorities to finance improvement works, such as upgraded disinfection facilities, chlorine and turbidity monitors and dial-out alarms to warn of treatment plant malfunctions.

"The funding allocation of €64,095 will enable Clare County Council to set about implementing the necessary improvements as quickly as possible to ensure that all drinking water supplied to the general public is clean and wholesome," he added.

Mr Killeen said the quality of public water supplies was a "top priority" in the Programme for Government.

(PR)