Work Starts on Long Awaited Wastewater Treatment Project In Clare

Clare County Council has signed a EUR4.3M contract with Treatment System Services Ltd (TSSL) to construct treatment facilities for the villages of Scarriff, Tuamgraney and Feakle in East Clare, as well as Quilty and Mullagh in the west of the County.

The contract complements the existing EUR7m Network contract, which is now nearing completion. Under the contract TSSL will Design and Build three new treatment, transfer and outfall facilities, including a sea outfall at Quilty, on the west coast of Clare. The contractor will then enter a 20-year Operation & Maintenance period bringing the ultimate value of the contract to EUR9M. The scheme will be operational by the end of 2009, and fully commissioned in early 2010.

Welcoming the contract signing at Aras Contae An Chláir, Mayor of Clare Cllr. Madeleine Taylor Quinn expressed her delight that a project that had been on the political agenda of Clare County Council for over 40 years had finally been brought to fruition.

"I would like to pay tribute to the many current, former and deceased County Councillors who have worked tirelessly to ensure that the Department would sanction this long overdue project. I also wish to compliment the engineering staff of Clare County Council who have always done their utmost to advance the project despite repeated alterations by the Department to the criteria for such schemes," added the Mayor.

Councillor Taylor Quinn noted that for many years the lack of adequate infrastructure had led to pressure being placed on the rural areas concerned in relation to development.

The Mayor explained, "Due to the lack of such vital infrastructure increasing numbers of people have applied to the County Council for permission to build and to provide their own septic tank and water supply. I believe that the completion of work on the schemes will relieve much of this pressure and provide for the rural regeneration and sustained economic development of the respective regions."

Meanwhile, Director of Services for Transport & Infrastructure with Clare County Council, David Timlin commented, "Clare County Council is delighted that in the current difficult economic circumstances that work on these important schemes is now underway. There is no doubt that, when completed, the schemes will add immeasurably to the sustained development of the communities involved. Furthermore, the Council anticipates that over the next 12 months it will be in a position to authorise the commencement of schemes in such areas as Cooraclare, Clonlara and Broadford."

Clare County Council has a significant Water Services Programme underway at present. Water Supply Schemes are nearing completion in Newmarket-on-Fergus, Kilkee, Ennis, and Ballyvaughan. In addition sewerage schemes are underway or nearing completion in Tulla, Newmarket-on-Fergus and Corofin, with further improvement schemes to start in Quin and Killimer this year.

-ENDS-
Note to Editor:
- Mayor Madeleine Taylor Quinn; Hugh McGrath, Senior Executive Engineer, Water Services; and/or David Timlin Director of Services, Clare County Council are available for interview/further comment. To arrange please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy PR on 086-8534900 or media@dunphypr.com

Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
www.dunphypr.com
media@dunphypr.com
00353-868534900