€108,848 investment in five rural water service projects in Co. Meath

€108,848 in funding has been announced for Co. Meath under the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme.

The projects approved for funding include water treatment provision at Kiltale GWS and water treatment provision at Meath Hill GWS.

This comes as the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, has announced funding approval for more than 250 individual projects across the country under a new cycle of the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme, providing capital investment to improve water services in rural areas. This cycle of the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme is to run to 2026.

Earlier this year, the local authorities were invited to work with group water schemes and their representative body, the National Federation of Group Water Schemes, to submit applications for funding for individual capital projects.

The funding being provided and the completion of these projects will enable Group Water Schemes to continue to improve the quality, quantity and reliability of the water services in rural areas.

Welcoming the investment Fianna Fáil General Election Candidate for Meath West Councillor Aisling Dempsey said: “A key objective of the Government is to enhance the wellbeing and quality of life of people living in rural Ireland. Having access to reliable and safe drinking water is critically important to continue to build resilient and sustainable rural communities and economies. The funding allocated today is an example of Government’s ongoing investment and commitment to the future social, environmental and economic development of rural Ireland.

"I am very conscious of the need to protect our water sources and ensure the highest standards in water treatment. I also want to ensure that our rural communities have the benefit of high quality infrastructure and water services. I have no doubt that the investment announced today will help improve these water services which will continue to support and encourage people to live and work locally in rural Ireland,” she concluded.

Fianna Fáil General Election Candidate for Meath East Councillor Caroline O'Reilly has also welcomed the announcement. She said:

“Fianna Fail places a priority on enhancing the well being and quality of life of people living in rural Ireland. I will keep advocating for access to reliable and safe driving water because it is absolutely vital to building resilient and sustainable rural communities and economies.

"This funding is welcome because it demonstrates Fianna Fail's commitment to the development of rural Ireland into the future.

"A key priority for me is the protection of our water services and ensuring that rural communities here in Meath East have the benefit of high quality infrastructure. I will do all I can to help improve these services and I will encourage people to live and work locally in rural Ireland,” she concluded.