Rathmolyon group water project nearing completion

The tender for completion of works on the Rathmolyon Group Water Scheme has been awarded to P Shiels Plant Hire Ltd and the project is expected to cost in the region of €25,000 to complete. The original tender for the private group water scheme was won by York Civil Engineering Ltd and the works were nearing completion when that firm went into receivership earlier this year. The outstanding works were examined by Meath County Council and a new tender was issued on 2nd May, with the closing date for receipt of tenders passing on 15th May. The tender was awarded to P Shiels Plant Hire Ltd and the contract was signed on 27th June. Work began on the project two weeks ago and, according to group water scheme chairperson, John McAuliffe, work is 'progressing well' and they are 'delighted' with progress to date. He is expecting that houses will have running water from the new water scheme in the coming weeks. Meath County Council spokesperson Bill Sweeney said that the project would take about six weeks to complete in total and that the commissioning of the pumping station could take an additional number of weeks. When operational, the Rathmolyon Group Water Scheme will cater for approximately 110 connections. The water scheme is now seven years in the pipeline. The campaign to bring mains water to Rathmolyon began in 2000 when problems with wells running dry and becoming spoiled led a group of residents to look into getting a group water scheme up and running and a committee was formed. Six years later, the contract for the project was signed in November 2006 and work began in February 2007. Mr McAuliffe said the committee was disappointed that the scheme had taken so long but said these things take time and he said he realised that 'nothing runs like clockwork'. He praised Meath County Council for its help in getting the scheme back on track as quickly as possible after the original contractor went into receivership. 'Meath County Council rode in behind us quickly to supports us and get things done,' he said. He added that it was also in the council"s interest to get things done properly and quickly. Mr McAuliffe said people got a shock when the contractor went out of business but added that the council had been very supportive and the committee and council had worked well together and both had put their shoulder to the wheel to get the job completed.