Local Authority News Vol.33 No.1

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LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS Vol 33 No 1 2013

• IRISH CEMENT CELEBRATING 75TH ANNIVERSARY • SROWLAND WATER TREATMENT PLANT • ISO 24512 DRINKING WATER MANAGEMENT

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Website: www.localauthoritynews.ie

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CONTENTS VOL. 33. No.1 2013

FEATURES IRISH CEMENT CELEBRATING 75TH 2 ANNIVERSARY Srowland WTP

Published by:

SMART STREET LIGHTING" IN CROSSMOLINA, CO. MAYO

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GILTRON LTD RIVERVIEW LODGE, DUBLIN ROAD, NAVAN, CO. MEATH.

PROTECTING OUR WATER, PREVENTING ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE 9

Tel: 00353 46 9072841 Email: franklambert@giltron.ie Website: www.localauthoritynews.ie

IRISH WATER TEAMS UP WITH AN 11 TAISCE GREEN-SCHOOLS

Designed & produced by Donnelly Design & Print Ltd.

ISSN NO. 1393-0394 LAN is available FREE OF CHARGE to all Local and Central Government Bodies throughout Ireland.

Published bi-monthly it is disseminated to Local Authority Managers, Assistant Managers, County Secretaries, Finance Officers, Principal Officers, Department Heads, County Engineers, City Engineers, Chief Quantity Surveyors, Senior Architects, Plant Superintendents, Senior Executive Engineers, Town Clerks, Purchasing Officers, Administrative Officers, Inspectors, Park Superintendents, County Librarians, etc. in all Government Departments, County Councils, Corporations, Office of Public Works, Urban District Councils, StateSponsored and Development Bodies and Agencies.

AQS ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS INTRODUCES INFONET TO THE IRISH 13 MARKET MANAGEMENT AND ASSESSMENT OF DRINKING WATER UTILITIES AND 16 DRINKING WATER SERVICES OPENING OF BALLYMORE EUSTACE WASTE WATER TREATMENT 19 PLANT ESS SAFEFORCE OPENS FIRST DEPOT IN IRELAND

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REGULARS DEPARTMENT BREIFS

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PRODUCT INFORMATION

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CLASSIFIEDS

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Irish Cement 75th Anniversary T

what is now a largely urban-based 21st century modern economy.

Irish Cement has made a significant contribution to

Today, modern production plants at Platin and Limerick incorporate the most up to date and efficient production technologies and serve home and export

here are few companies in Ireland that can match the longevity and sustained contribution to Irelandʼs national growth and development of Irish Cement Ltd.

Irish Cement Head Office

markets with a portfolio of eco-efficient products which will make a lasting contribution to the built environment.

the growth and transformation of Ireland over the past seventy five years from what was then a rural agricultural country on the periphery of Europe into

Historical Beginnings Following the Cement Act of 1933 which provided the legal framework for the development of a cement industry in Ireland, ʻCement Ltdʼ was registered as a Limited Liability Company in May 1936. Séamus Lynch, Managing Director of Irish Cement Ltd, explains: “When the company was established in the mid 1930ʼs, it was decided to build a new 150,000 tonne cement factory at Drogheda and a second 75,000 tonne facility at Castlemungret just outside Limerick. The two plants both came into operation in the spring of 1938 and it was actually Seán Lemass, the then Minister for Industry and Commerce, who officially opened both plants simultaneously at 12.15pm on May 23rd 1938.”

Drogheda Works 1930ʼs

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Expansionary Years In the 1960s, production capacity was further increased to meet growing demand levels by commissioning three new kilns at Limerick in 1961, 1964 and 1965 which brought total production levels to over 1 million tonnes. Meanwhile in Drogheda, Lynch says it was the beginning of a new chapter “In 1968 Cement Ltd decided to build a new factory at a green field site at Platin outside Drogheda to meet the demands of the expanding economy and Platin Kiln 1, the first dry process plant in Ireland, was commissioned in 1972.”

Limerick Works

Platin Kiln 1 increased annual production capacity by over 400,000 tonnes and soon after, a second kiln project followed which was at the time the largest single construction project ever undertaken by Cement Ltd. Commissioned in 1977, Kiln 2 added an impressive 1 million tonnes of extra capacity.

The Early Years Due to increasing demand, it was soon decided to double capacity at the Drogheda plant with a second production line which commenced operations in 1940.

Lynch points out that despite the impact of the Second World War, many large construction projects were going ahead in Ireland during the 1940s: “The new State was starting to take shape with big projects such as Busáras in Dublin and the Liffey HydroElectric Scheme coming through.

By now Cement Ltd and Roadstone Ltd had merged to form Cement Roadstone Holdings Ltd., subsequently renamed CRH plc, which has grown to become one of the worldʼs largest building material companies. In addition, as Lynch explains, the name of the company was changed to Irish Cement Ltd: “In December 1978 we became IRISH CEMENT LTD to reflect the long history of indigenous cement manufacture at Drogheda and Limerick and to more appropriately brand the Company and its products as being 100% Irish”.

Following the highly successful introduction of the new dry process kilns at Platin during the 1970s the Company then turned its attention to a major modernisation project at Limerick Works, which saw the commissioning of a new Kiln 6 dry process line in 1983.

Overseas Initiatives As a response to the 1980ʼs recession, Irish Cement established Irish Cement Consultancy Services to market internationally the considerable engineering skills built up over many decades with a view to maintaining these skills within the Company. Lynch says it was an innovative move: “It helped preserve corporate knowledge within the company in a period of prolonged downturn. Throughout the 1980s our engineers managed many significant projects across five continents, particularly Africa. New export opportunities in the UK were also identified and new markets were developed here promoting the use of concrete, particularly in agriculture.”

Platin Works – Kiln 3 preheater tower

The new aprons and runway at Dublin Airport created significant demand for large volumes of concrete which led to the first deliveries of cement in bulk in 1946. Readymixed concrete was produced in Dublin for the first time in 1949, and we saw steady growth in demand for bulk cement from then on”.

In late 1951 plans were developed to extend both Works. In 1954 a third unit of 150,000 tonnes at Drogheda and a second unit of 100,000 tonnes at Limerick came into production.

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Recent Capacity Developments The recession of the 1980s gave way to renewed growth during the 1990s and early 2000s. The Company responded to the increased demand by implementing a number of major projects to enhance capacity at Limerick and Platin. In late 2008 a new state-of-the-art energy efficient Kiln line (Kiln 3) with modern milling technology and a production capacity of 1.4 million tonnes was successfully completed at Platin, and is now one of the most energy efficient facilities in Europe.

The Future Notwithstanding the current construction climate, Lynch is optimistic about the future. “Irish Cement Ltd, as the major producer of cement in Ireland, with modern energy efficient plants, its new eco-efficient product portfolio and its renowned technical excellence both in cement plant process technology and cement and concrete technology in use, is extremely well positioned to continue making a major contribution to the sustainable development of Ireland well into the future.”

Eco Credentials & Sustainability A major product development programme was launched in the early 2000s to establish the most sustainable eco-efficient low carbon product portfolio for the future. Lynch explains it was another industry first for Irish Cement and an important part of the companyʼs sustainability strategy “We identified CEM II Portland – Limestone cement, which is produced by grinding unburnt naturally occurring limestone with clinker, as the sustainable flagship product for the future and we first introduced it to the market in 2007.

It quickly became the main cement used throughout Ireland.”

Séamus Lynch, MD Irish Cement Limited

Jim Mintern, Regional Director – Eurpoe West CRH explains; “The decision to establish Cement Ltd in Drogheda and Limerick in 1938 was early recognition by the State of the strategic national importance of indigenous cement production using locally available and sustainable Irish raw materials. While perhaps taken for granted today, this remains as important a principle as 75 years ago.

In recent years, Irish Cement Ltd has taken further strides in its commitment to sustainable cement production – the substitution of fossil fuels with alternative waste-derived fuels in Platin Works.

Lynch explains “as well as enhancing the Companyʼs strategy of producing sustainable low carbon cements, it makes a significant contribution to national waste management by diverting waste from landfill”.

Today Irish Cement is an industry leader with one of the most modern efficient cement production facilities in Europe allowing it to compete internationally and sustain jobs and investment here in Ireland.

Technological investments such as Kiln 3, and innovations like low carbon CEM II cement and low carbon alternative fuels have significantly reduced emissions and are an important part of Irish Cementʼs commitment to long term sustainable operations.

Irish Cement has also played an important role in the development of the CRH Group worldwide, and has proven to be a world-class training ground for many of CRHʼs global management team. Many of CRHʼs senior executives and engineers in Europe and Asia have come through Irish Cement.

Throughout the history of Irish Cement Ltd, there have been periods of growth and recession. Lynch explains “Throughout these periods, Irish Cement Ltd has made a notable contribution to the local communities in which it operates, giving much needed employment in the North East and Mid West.

Throughout Ireland, the sustainable development of the built environment – houses, schools, hospitals, farms, roads, commercial and industrial buildings and infrastructure of all kinds - has been made possible through concrete made with the Companyʼs products over this period”.

This expertise constantly flows back into Irish Cement, building on our reserves of operational excellence and helping us immeasurably in planning for the companyʼs next 75 years in Ireland.”

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Jim Mintern – Regional Director – Europe West, CRH

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Minister Rabbitte officially switches on "Smart Street Lighting" in Crossmolina, Co. Mayo potential of funding large scale Public Lighting renovations as ʻexemplarʼ projects under the Energy Efficiency Fund that he launched in February. “In this regard I was delighted to unveil the first tranche of 22 exemplar energy efficiency projects last June under the Action Plan for Jobs. These organisations spanning the Health, Education, Manufacturing, Services, Food and Public sectors have taken a bold step and are blazing a trail for others to follow. These Exemplar projects are demonstration projects that are designed to help us meet our National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) targets, and in particular the challenging 33% energy savings target that we have set for the public sector.

nergy Minister, Pat Rabbitte, has this evening officially switched on Crossmolinaʼs “Smart Street Lighting”, in what is a first-of-its-kind venture in Ireland. With the backing of Crossmolina Community Development and Mayo County Council, Crossmolina was chosen as a pilot to test a new public lighting initiative that aims to result in long term savings to the town and council, as well as encouraging the delivery of other energy efficiency projects across the country.

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“Exemplar projects are exciting and Innovative and will collectively see investment of up to €55 million in energy saving measures. This in turn is anticipated to generate annual savings of €7 million. Furthermore, they should help support over 500 jobs across the country which is very welcome news given the current economic challenges Ireland faces.

“I am convinced that the lessons learned here will bring benefits to other Local Authorities who are keen to reduce their energy costs associated with public lighting.”

Energy Minister Pat Rabbitte, TD, turns on the street lighting scheme in Crossmolina with Siobhan Gough, chairperson, Crossmolina Community Development Committee; Paul Jordan, Selc Ireland; and Michelle Mulhern, TD

Notes • Exchequer funding of 35 % of the costs was allocated by the Government under the Better Energy Workplaces (BEW) Scheme to the Crossmolina Smart Street Lighting initiative, while the ESB IE provided 15% of the funding.

According to Minister Rabbitte, “This is the first town in Mayo, and moreover, the first town in Ireland to receive ʻSmart Street Lightingʼ. There are currently around 420,000 public lights in the Republic of Ireland, the bulk of which are operated under Local Authorities. The energy consumption of public lighting is estimated to represent between 15% and 35% of the total energy consumption in Local Authorities.

Therefore, the potential for energy saving in street lighting is very significant.”

Crossmolina already has a mix of low and high wattage street lighting, resulting in its identification by Mayo County Council as a suitable test project. The pilot initiative aims to test the Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) of new ʻdimming and trimmingʼ energy saving technology, through which light output can be controlled for each individual light or group of lights. Through the delivery of this new technology it is expected that Mayo County Council should continue to achieve cost savings over the lifetime of the project.

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The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) provided expertise and support that has contributed to the successful delivery of the pilot.

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It is anticipated that the project will be repaid under a 15 year contract through the energy savings and the maintenance and capital expenditure savings generated over the period of the contract, reducing energy consumption by 35.2% and produce energy savings of 50,190 kWH.

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Details of the Energy Efficiency Fund are available here at http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Press+Releases/2013/ NEEAP.htm

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Details of the Exemplar projects announcement are available here at http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Press+Releases/2013/ Minister+Pat+Rabbitte+announces+exemplar +energy+projects.htm

Minister Rabbitte noted that this initiative in Crossmolina has already encouraged Mayo County Council and other local authorities to examine the

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BAM & Veolia Providing clean water Partners in building & operating Srowland Water Treatment Plant Delivering 40 million litres of water per day

www.veoliawater.ie - www.bamcontractors.ie

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SROWLAND WATER TREATMENT PLANT The Srowland Water Treatment Plant, with a capacity of 40 million litres of potable water per day was delivered in June 2013, on time and within budget by Veolia BAM JV. The Srowland Treatment Plant is a key component of the Water Strategy for Kildare and the Greater Dublin area, which has been highlighted as a key facilitator for national economic development.

The purpose of the plant is to reduce future demand pressures on the Greater Dublin Area and to ensure consumers in South West Kildare will have a secure and wholesome supply of quality water for many years to come.

At concept stage Kildare County Council, appointed Nicholas Oʼ Dwyer Consulting Engineers Ltd., in conjunction with P J Tobin Consulting Engineers Ltd., to prepare a Water Strategy for County Kildare which would enable County Kildare to meet its water demands up to 2020. The River Barrow was identified as the most environmentally and economically viable abstraction solution. The overarching goal of the project was to reduce Kildareʼs dependence upon the River Liffey, develop the Barrow as a source for up to 40 million litres per day, and release water to the Greater Dublin Area.

As part of the planning process, extensive stakeholder and public consultations were undertaken, followed by a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement and a hydrogeological study. This rigorous approach ensured that the design team could identify innovative mitigation measures necessary to ensure that the River Barrow was not compromised from an environmental, amenity, or navigational perspective. As a result of these studies, the project was designed to include the construction of two 60,000m3 bank side storage reservoirs to regulate abstraction from the River Barrow during low flow or drought conditions.

Service The scope of the project includes a best-in-class highly innovative low footprint Water Treatment Plant capable of delivering some 40 million litres of water per day in a 20 hour period, using best available technology. The works is highly automated and includes many innovative and unconventional process elements such as the Actifloc® High Rate Ballasted Clarification and Filtration process, automatic coagulation control, as well as the first Irish municipal application of bank side storage and CO2 stripping.

Value Value for money was a priority both from a capital and operating cost perspective. The construction footprint of the treatment plant is less than 25% than that of a comparable conventional plant thereby reducing capital costs and minimizing environmental impact. Especially important, given the abstraction sensitivity of the River Barrow, the works were delivered with an exceptionally low water footprint, being greater than 97% hydraulically efficient.

Responsibility The works were delivered in a responsible manner, minimising any impact on the environment, the River Barrow catchment and its stakeholders whilst delivering the project on time and within budget. Veoliaʼs long-term commitment approach is key to this project, as we are responsible for ensuring that the plant is operated and maintained appropriately to produce high-quality water for the next 20 years.

The Srowland Water Treatment Plant was procured and constructed under a Design-Build-Operate contract.

Following an open tender procedure, Veolia Water Ireland and BAM Civil in JV were awarded the project in April 2011, on the basis of the total 20 year design-build-operate cost and the technical merits of the JV proposal. The construction component of the contract was valued at circa. €25 million. The operation portion of the contract is for a period of 20 years, during which Veolia Water Ireland will be fully responsible for the operation of the works on behalf of Kildare County Council.

The project brought together the talents of the Local Authority, Consulting Engineers, BAM and Veolia to deliver a world class infrastructure project. The concepts of Service, Value and Responsibility were integral to the philosophy applied to all aspects of the project.

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• Easy and economical to install

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Protecting our water, preventing environmental damage, and changing behaviours are key to a sustainable recovery Changing our behaviours to become more resource efficient will be the key to sustainable growth in the future, Ms Burke continued.

rotecting the environmental resources we already have, including our water resources, will be a priority for the EPA in the coming years, according to Director General of the EPA, Laura Burke. She was speaking at the ninth annual Environment Ireland conference, organised in association with the EPA and the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, which took place in Croke Park.

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“With the likelihood of a global water shortfall of 40% by 2030, Irelandʼs valuable and abundant water resources are predicted to become of increasing strategic importance to the Irish economy. Clean water and a well-managed environment underpin key economic sectors, such as tourism and the agri-food industry, both of which thrive on the clean green image of Ireland."

“The current economic recession – while it has brought profound hardship and difficulty for so many people – does provide us with an opportunity to break the unsustainable cycle of production and consumption we were on. Resource efficiency has become one of the top environmental priorities and is one of the seven flagship initiatives within the Europe 2020 Strategy. Our use of finite resources across Europe increased by 300% between 1998 and 2011. That was and is unsustainable. We need to produce products that are reusable and recyclable and we all need to engage in more sustainable behaviours.”

Preventing future environmental damage from the closure of activities and driving the remediation of existing contaminated sites will also be a major focus for the EPA, Ms Burke said.

In its most recent Strategy Statement, the EPA has expanded considerably its advocacy role, working with others to be an agent for change bringing about positive outcomes for the environment.

“There have been a number of high-profile cases in Ireland where the State has had to intervene to manage abandoned facilities such as mines, with significant environmental liabilities, and costing tens of millions of euro.” Ms Burke said. “There are other cases where licensed facilities have ceased or gone into liquidation or receivership. The current economic climate has increased the risk of such occurrences.

The EPA has recently published guidance on assessing and costing such environmental liabilities.

Proper environmental liability management makes both good environmental and good business sense, minimising environmental impacts and representing forward financial planning for businesses.”

“We continue to carry out all of our core functions environmental regulation, enforcement, monitoring, assessment, research and reporting,” Ms Burke said.

“But we are now focusing particular energy and resources on working with others – local authorities, other agencies, businesses, and people in their homes – to engage in sustainable behaviours. Our aim is to build awareness and the behavioural changes needed in our homes, communities, businesses, and at a policy level to enable Ireland to become a low-carbon, resource efficient economy and society,” she concluded.

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Irish Water Teams Up with An Taisce Green-Schools rish Water has teamed up with An Taisce to support schools undertaking the Water theme of the GreenSchools programme throughout Ireland. The Water theme aims to increase awareness among primary and secondary school students about water conservation.

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the assistance and support of Irish Water we can increase this figure while raising awareness of the need for water conservation among school children, their families and the wider community. “ In addition, Irish Water and An Taisce have today launched a competition for schools applying for the An Taisce Green Flag for Water in 2013/2014 academic year. The Irish Water Green-School of the Year award will recognise innovation and creativity among primary and secondary schools who have achieved success in reducing their water consumption, spreading awareness about water issues and involving their community in their GreenSchools Water Programme. Primary and Secondary schools applying for the An Taisce Green Flag for Water in the 2013/2014 academic year will be in with a chance to win.

The Green-Schools Water Programme encourages participating schools to improve their water efficiency and to conserve water by adopting simple measures through a seven-step framework. Operated by An Taisce, Green-Schools promotes and acknowledges long-term whole school action for the environment across seven themes including water, energy, waste and sustainable transport.

Commenting on the partnership, Elizabeth Arnett from Irish Water said, “Learning about the value of water and how to be water efficient from an early age is really important and by educating and working with young people throughout Ireland we can help to change and improve our water behaviour patterns and attitudes to water management over time.

“Irish Water is committed to supporting the education and engagement of school students in water efficiency and conservation and is delighted to partner with An Taisce to help increase school participation in its Green-Schools programme,” she continued.

Patricia Oliver, Director of An Taisceʼs Environmental Education Unit added, “An Taisce Green-Schools is delighted to announce our new partnership with Irish Water which will enable us to continue supporting schools who are tackling the Water theme of our programme. Last year schools in Ireland saved 300,000,000 litres of water; we are confident that with

The Irish Water Green-School of the Year competition is divided into two categories - The Irish Water Primary School of the Year and the Irish Water Secondary School of the Year.

The winning schools in each category will each receive a prize fund of €2,000. Prizes will also be awarded to schools in second, third and fourth place.

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For further information on the competition, schools should visit: www.greenschoolsireland.org.

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How ready are we if disaster were to strike?

An extraordinary union of events over the last few years have combined to create a heightened awareness of the potential risks of disasters, emergencies and epidemics. They have shown us, Ireland is far from being immune. Indeed, the threat of a national emergency is very real!

It is against this backdrop that leading conference organisers, iQuest, will be hosting The National Emergency Planning Summit in Croke Park on Thursday, December 5 and attempting to answer the question 'How ready are we if disaster were to strike?'

Speakers The exciting speaker line up includes, amongst others: • Conor Galvin, Chartered Engineer, Office of Public Works • Paul Cobbing, Chief Executive, National Flood Forum, UK • Mark Doyle, Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Waterford Regional Hospital • Margaret Desmond, Climate Change Unit, EPA • Anthony Lawlor, National Director of Units, Irish Red Cross • Edgar Morgenroth, Associate Research Professor, ESRI • Tom Hegarty, National Incident & Leakage Manager, Bord Gais Networks

For further information or to review the full programme, visit: www.emergencysummit.ie or call Jackie on 087-0557913 or email: jackie.bryan@iquest.ie.

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AQS Environmental solutions introduces INFONET to the Irish market QS Environmental solutions, one of Irelands leading drainage infrastructure cleaning and surveying companies, have recently secured and commenced utilisation of one of Europeʼs leading data management software tools.

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AQS also added : “ Infonet has enabled us to provide our customers with an easy to use network modelling system and has significantly reduced the amount of time required by our customers to interpret information and process same – we see data management as a significant area of development within our industry in the future and we are trying to offer our customers a cost effective, efficient solution to data management “.

New water recycler added to fleet: Along with Infonet, and in order to help improve efficiencies on site while generating information at drain survey stage, AQS have recently purchased a combined suction and jetting unit with water recycling and this unit is now utilised on a full time basis on drain cleaning and surveying projects nationwide.

InfoNet is a purpose-built Infrastructure Management System (IMS) for water distribution, wastewater collection and storm water networks ensuring informed, swift and cost-effective decision making both for day-to-day operational management and for long-term network planning. Designed for operations managers, engineers and planners in the water industry, InfoNet enables users to manage, integrate, validate, analyse, and report on their network data to provide accurate, auditable, up-to-date information and report on network infrastructure and performance, presented in easy to use format.

AQS are utilising Infonet as a platform to manage data generated in the following field services : • • • • • •

CCTV surveying of drainage systems Manhole Inspections Smoke tests / dye tests GPS surveys Impermeable area surveys Flow and load surveys

Commenting on the system, AQS have said : “ Infonet enables us to provide our customers with a network model incorporating all of the data generated as a result of the various activities on site. By providing our customers with information in a network model format, with a click of a mouse, the customer can view any specific data segments required such as individual line segment CCTV surveys, manhole surveys, impermeable area survey data etc.

Customers can generate colour coded plan views highlighting information e.g. pipe sizes or which sections have maintenance scheduled in the next year.

According to AQS : “ Efficient cleaning of sewer pipes requires significant amounts of water. For the regular sewer cleaning vehicle, a high level of water consumption entails much driving back and forth to the work site in connection with water filling. A water recycler generally requires only one water filling a day, as opposed to multiple fills in the case of conventional non recycling jetting units - You therefore achieve significant water savings and therefore considerably less strain exerted on the environment and water supply “.

AQS added –“Our objective has always been to provide our customers with the best technology and methods available on the market, such as Infonet and water recyclers. With our fleet of high tech modern equipment and our trained personnel, consisting of civil engineers, software engineers, and professional trained field staff, we are capable of providing a professional cost effective service to all our clients“.

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AQS Environmental Solutions, Archerstown Industrial Estate, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Tel. 0504 57800 fax. 0504 57801.

Iinfo@aqssolutions.ie www.aqssolutions.ie

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SHARERIDGE LTD. · THOMAS STREET CASTLEBAR · CO MAYO · IRELAND TEL: +00353 (0)94 90 24663 TEL: +00353 (0)94 90 60554 FAX: +00353 (0)94 90 38452 E-mail: shareridgeltd@eircom.net

Company Objectives:

PIPE REPLACEME

ShareRidge Ltd. are established experts in P various methods of trenchless technology

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ShareRidge Ltd. offers a wealth of expertise and professionalism within its field. This, combined with a proven track record of large scale projects and attention to detail, means that ShareRidge Ltd. is proud to offer clients a unique blend of attention to detail, high standards of work, a face-to-face approach and all projects completed within budget and timeframes.

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It is the company objective to strive towards excellence in all aspects of its work and service delivery.

ShareRidge Ltd aims to push the boundaries within all aspects of work by introducing pioneering techniques that will not only make the work more efficient but also improve outputs and drive down costs and timescale for clients.

ShareRidge Ltd has further progressed with Chlorination/Dechlorination of water mains market a chlorination/Dechlorination trailer

SPECIALITIES INCLUDE:

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Leak Detection & Repairs

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Directional Drilling (including under buildings)

• • • • • • • • •

Large Trunk Mains and smaller Branch Mains chlorination /de-chlorination

THE CHLORINATION/DECHLORINATION mobile plant offering an excellent operating enviro demanding and temporary disinfection application system, from large Diameter Trunk Mains (LDTM chlorination/dechlorination

THE CHLORINATION/DECHLORINATION straightforward apparatus in an appropriately furni protects the equipment, chemicals, and the operato de-chlorination of new or repaired trunk mains can supplementation of established treatment processe

Pipe Bursting Moling Electrofusion & Butt Welding Live Connection of Utility Services Sewer Renovations Site Inspections Stone & Blockwork Reinstatement Landscaping Steel Fixing & Form Work LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS

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MENT SPECIALISTS

in Pipe Replacement Technology, including logy resulting in no surface disturbance.

d with mains and offers the Irish trailer unit

TION TRALOR UNIT is a superior, environment for the more cations in the water distribution LDTM’s) to smaller branch mains

TION UNIT incorporates robust and y furnished trailer which fully operator efficient chlorination and/or ins can be assured as well as ocesses where necessary

CHLORINATION/DECHLORINATION UNIT KEY FEATURES � Fully Flow Proportional Chlorination / Dechlorination e.g. From 0.10PPM (Mg/L) to 20PPM and 50PPM � Large Trunk Mains and smaller Branch Mains chlorination � All components in an easily manoeuvred, weather-proof trailer � Chemical dosing range up to 20 Ltrs per hour � OxO Hydrant x Valve x Hydrant Bypass Dosing up to 1000 Ltrs/min of Water Mains Flow � Multiple dosing pump options � Individual bunds for chemical containers, separate from operator. � Hydrant couplings for water main bypass connections. � Flow proportional injection (direct injection optional). � 110 volt supply connection and 24 volt battery pack (48 hour running time). � Water flow meter and chemical dose controller, monitor, recorder. � Validation kit for instant water quality check

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MANAGEMENT AND ASSESSMENT OF DRINKING WATER UTILITIES AND DRINKING WATER SERVICES. THE "ISO 24512 APPROACH" he National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) is now offering a voluntary certification scheme to the drinking water utility sector.

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Utilities who have implemented the requirements of ISO 24512 can now have their management systems independently audited by NSAI. This new certification scheme is intended to advance and encourage the adoption of a systematic approach throughout the sector.

Assessment of compliance with ISO 24512 will be conducted by NSAI personnel with extensive experience in the water utilities sector.

hygiene and sanitation, are intimately dependent on an adequate supply of water of an appropriate quality.

The ever increasing demand for potable water prompted by the rapidly expanding population has placed a heavy burden on existing water treatment infrastructure. The consequence of this burden has manifested itself in a high degree of non-compliance against water quality requirements.

Such short-comings have resulted in numerous public health concerns which have heightened public awareness and given rise to a general lack of confidence in water supplies. Based upon recent regulatory findings these concerns have been substantiated in some incidences.

In a recent publication the EPA reported the following: 40% of water treatment plants are operating inadequately and are at increased risk of Cryptosporidium contamination 20% of water supplies are contaminated with faecal indicators such as E. coli

Following a successful assessment scheme participants are listed on the NSAI web site (www.nsai.ie) - Directory of Registered Companies, and issued with an NSAI certificate of registration.

Certified organisations are entitled to use the unique NSAI Drinking Water Mark and are subject to annual inspections in order to verify on-going conformance with the requirements of this international standard.

There continues to be insufficient monitoring of water safety in more than 120 public group water schemes To promote increased consumer confidence in the water management sector, the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) have collected and distilled relevant internationally recognised best practice and published it as ISO 24512:2007: Activities relating to drinking water and wastewater services – Guidelines for the management of drinking water utilities and for the assessment of drinking water services.

Registration provides: • Independent verification of effective system implementation and operation • Benchmarking with best practices • A stimulus for continual improvement • An appraisal of legal compliance • Confirmation of environmental sustainability • The establishment of stakeholder confidence • Recognition of compliance through use of the NSAI Drinking Water Mark Drinking Water Management Water is a basic fundamental for life. The basic needs of humans, from food production to personal

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Management & assessment of drinking water utilities and drinking water services The ISO 24512 Approach ISO 24512, one of a series of standards addressing water services, provides guidelines for the management of drinking water utilities and for the assessment of drinking water services.

Such an approach is applicable to drinking water systems in their entirety and is appropriate to systems at any level of development e.g. on-site systems, treatment facilities and distribution networks.

The major components and key elements of ISO 24512 are;

The standard recommends that the management and operators of publicly and privately owned drinking water utilities establish operations that fundamentally embrace all legal requirements and give consideration to recognised best practices.

Fundamental to the ISO 24512 approach is a clear understanding of the extent of the water utility operations to be managed. These may include abstraction, treatment, and distribution activities and the treatment, reuse or disposal of its residues.

For effective management of such utilities, it is recommended that an integrated management systems approach, encompassing all components of the water utility, be established based upon a “plando-check-act” model. An essential element to this approach is the establishment of core objectives that embrace: • Protection of public health • Meeting usersʼ needs and expectations • Service provision under normal and emergency situations

Adoption of ISO 24512 by drinking water utilities promotes awareness of the significance of public health protection and the establishment of reliable management practices.

Such an approach contributes to safeguarding the provision of potable water to dependent communities and providing confidence in this most basic of human needs

• Sustainability of the water utility • Promotion of sustainable community development • Protection of the environment • Attainment of these objectives is achieved through establishing clear management and operational procedures and mechanisms for the review of performance.

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1 Swift Square, Northwood, Santry, Dublin 9, Ireland T: +353 1 807 3800 F: +353 1 807 3838 E: info@nsai.ie

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• HydroBeam® Sealing System Seals very Effectively • Robust Construction • Stainless Steel for Durable Tension • Free Selection of Module Dimensions • Easy and Quick to Install • Can be Combined with Existing Systems/Structures

Oakstown . Trim . Co. Meath Tel: 046 943 1389 Fax: 046 943 7054 E-mail: info@oreillyoakstown.com LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS

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Opening of Ballymore Eustace Waste Water Treatment Plant he Ballymore Eustace Sewerage Scheme has been delivered under two separate construction contracts. The first contract for the pumping station and rising main at a total cost of over €1m. was awarded to Ward and Burke Ltd.

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Figure 1 – Aerial view of scheme

The second contract for the provision of a new Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) at a cost of almost €800k was awarded to Response Engineering Ltd. The contracts provided for the following key elements • A new Pumping Station and Storm Tank on the site of the old wastewater treatment works site

adjacent to the Liffey bridge crossing in Ballymore.

• A rising main to transfer flows from the pumping station site to the new wastewater treatment works • A new wastewater treatment works in Ballymore Eustace capable of treating a load of 2,000pe (population equivalent).

• An outfall to the River Liffey.

• Demolition of the old wastewater treatment works and landscaping of the general area to reflect its prominent position in the village.

The old WWTP now replaced had a capacity of 500pe and was overloaded to the extent that lack of treatment capacity was hindering new development opportunities in Ballymore. The construction of new wastewater treatment facilities, with fourfold increase in treatment capacity, will support the potential future development initiatives in Ballymore Eustace.

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Tel: (353) 21 4510600 Sales Office Tel: (353) 21 4510610

www.corkplastics.com

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H ogan announces working group on citizen engagement with local government inister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, T.D. announced the setting up of a working group on citizen engagement to make recommendations on more extensive and diverse input by citizens into the decision-making process and to allow for facilitation of input by citizens into decision making at the local government level. The group are holding their first meeting today.

Minister Hogan stated:

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regular town/area meetings. Given this, it would be important that citizen engagement is addressed not just as an ʻadd-onʼ to a new community-focussed role for local government, but also addresses core areas such as promoting higher voter turnout at elections, issues around local services, budgeting, local charges and should operate in a way that increases understanding on the part of the public generally of local government, how it operates and what it does.”

“Putting People First – the Action Programme for Effective Local Governmentʼ identifies the need for Local Government to build strong relationships with and gain the interest of local people and to provide for better engagement with citizens. The commitments set out in Putting People First on citizen engagement, and the overall scope of the reforms, are deep and wide.

“It is imperative that we put citizens at the heart of everything we do at local government level. This working group will explore all the options on how we might enhance citizen engagement. I would like to wish the group well in their endeavours” ended the Minister.

The working group, which will be chaired by Fr. Sean Healy of Social Justice Ireland, will report to the Minister within the next six to eight weeks.

They encompass ideas such as participatory budgeting, petition-related rights, plebiscites, and

Innovation And Reform To Mark Housing In 2014

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inister for Housing and Planning, Jan OʼSullivan, TD, announced significant investment measures in Budget 2014 that will increase the supply of homes for families who need

housing assistance and also focus on the most marginal unfinished estates.

According to Minister OʼSullivan, “Budget 2014 contains innovative housing measures. With the support of

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Minister Howlin, an additional €30m will be invested in local authority housing. Approximately half of this investment will enable the construction of new infill developments in areas with the highest demand for social housing. Another €15m will be invested in bringing long-term vacant units back into social use. I expect the €30m investment to produce up to 500 new homes for families.

“In recent years the capital budget for construction has focused on people with a special housing need. Indeed 2014 will see the completion of a three year €100m investment that will provide 800 units for our elderly, people with a disability or people without a home. This additional investment marks a return, albeit it in a modest way at first, to the direct construction of mainstream public housing by local authorities.

Budget 2014 also introduces a new €10m fund aimed at resolving unfinished estates where no development bond to carry out essential public works exists.

The Minister said, “Good progress has been made in the past three years in tackling unfinished estates, with more than 40% of them being resolved. As we look at the next phase those estates without a developer bond to cover public infrastructure are the most problematic.

A new fund of €10m will be established that will invest in public works, such as footpaths, drainage and roads.

This is an investment. Projects that benefit from the fund will demonstrate social benefits such as: • A marked enhancement in the quality of life for families.

• The potential to leverage the investment to kickstart completion works through private funding.

• A community gain in terms of housing units or amenity provision.

I see this fund as a catalyst for transforming the most difficult unfinished estates. That is the benchmark by which progress will be assessed over the coming 12 months.”

In relation to other aspects of the Budget Minister OʼSullivan estimates that in excess of 4,500 units will be provided for social housing in 2014 through leasing and existing capital programmes. This includes: • completion of mortgage-to-rent arrangements, • the continued transfer of NAMA units, • completion of existing building and acquisition programmes and • transfers under the Rental Accommodation Scheme.

Minister OʼSullivan also drew attention to the significant Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) reform that will be introduced in 2014. “The HAP reform will assist in getting people back to work, improve standards in the rental sector and provide a more coherent approach to housing support. Minister Burton and I have advanced reform and 2014 will see the legislative basis for HAP being introduced and a test phase beginning in seven local authorities.”

In 2014 €79m is being invested in the national regeneration programme. Among the priorities for the programme in 2014 are: • New focus on construction and refurbishment in Limerick Regeneration • Final phase of housing construction/refurbishment in Tralee and Ballymun • Refurbishment, demolition and construction at former Dublin PPP projects, notably Dolphin House and St. Teresaʼs Gardens.

In order to ensure continued progress towards the achievement of the 2016 target of ending long-term homelessness, the homeless budget is being maintained at €45 million. A new social impact investment initiative will also see more than 130 homeless families move out of private emergency accommodation and into sustainable long-term tenancies. Details of this scheme will be published in the coming days.

2014 will also see €25 million provided which will improve the energy efficiency of 12,500 local authority houses which will result in warmer homes and lower energy bills for thousands of families.

Minister O’Sullivan publishes Easy to Read Housing Strategy

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he Minister for Housing and Planning, Jan OʼSullivan, T.D., as published an easy to read version of the Governmentʼs National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2011 - 2016. The

document, was produced with the assistance of Inclusion Ireland and the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies Providing Services to People with Intellectual Disabilities and is designed to support

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people with intellectual disabilities in accessing appropriate housing solutions.

The Minister said, ʻMy Department, in conjunction with the local authorities, is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for people with disabilities. This easy to read document, which was developed in consultation with people with disabilities, is an important element in ensuring accessibility of services, including access to informationʼ.

The commitment to publish an easy to read version of the Housing Strategy for People with a Disability is a key action under the Governmentʼs new National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan. It supports the objective of ensuring that people with disabilities enjoy access to information, thereby promoting equality, choice and maximum independence.

Easy to Read version of National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2011 - 2016 (pdf, 1,815kb)

The most radical reform of local government in over 100 years r Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, announced the publication of the Local Government Bill 2013 to fundamentally reform the local government system in Ireland.

“This is the first time in over 100 years that we have attempted such a radical reform but it is necessary to bring our local government system up to date and to provide the kind of service our citizens deserve” the Minister said.

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The Local Government Bill 2013 will give effect to the reforms that were approved by Government in October 2012, following the publication of the landmark Action Programme for Effective Local Government – Putting People First.

The Bill provides for the necessary changes to local authority functions, structures, funding, performance and governance to achieve the overall vision of a local government system that is the main vehicle for public service delivery at local level, leads economic, social and community development and represents citizens and communities effectively and accountably.

Speaking at the launch of the Bill, the Minister said: “The whole point of local government reform is to ensure that local Councils deliver better services to their citizens.”

delivery of public necessitated.

services,

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“For too long local government has been by-passed by quangos. I want Councils to do more for citizens and local communities. But I accept that first local government must regain public trust,” the Minister said, “this will take time but the reforms will facilitate by helping to renew the relationship between the citizen and their local Council. This is critical and will be achieved in two main ways.

Firstly, citizens will have better engagement with their local Councillors on how and where money is spent through the LPT. And this engagement will be strengthened even further from 2015 onwards when Councillors will be given the power to vary the LPT. Secondly, citizens will be better able to judge how well their Council is doing at providing local services, how well they are performing relative to others Councils, and citizens will also be asked how satisfied they are with the services they get. It is only through this comprehensive form of measurement that we will be able to demonstrate that we have real reforms that citizens can see and benefit from,” said the Minister.

The main provisions of the Bill set out the structural reform of local government for greater efficiency, improvements to local government funding, accountability and governance, as well as providing for local government taking the lead in economic and community development.

The major structural reforms set out in the Bill will be the most radical and visible. The number of local authorities will reduce from 114 to 31 and the number of elected members will fall from 1,627 to 949. There will also be:

The Bill provides that in future no separate structures will be established outside of local government for the

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• A new integrated system of municipal districts throughout each county, to replace the 80 town councils. The new municipal districts will be fully

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representative of the population as distinct from the town councils which had limited functional, territorial and operational scope;

citizens they represent. Specific provisions are as follows: • The establishment of a new post of chief executive to replace the former city and county managers. The role of the chief executive will be more clearly defined to advise and support the elected Councillors in their policy making role and there will be enhanced management reporting arrangements to the Council. The Bill also provides for greater involvement by the Council in guiding the appointment of the chief executive;

• The creation of new unified local authorities in Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford as successors to the existing city and county councils; • New regional assemblies, with a more focussed role in spatial and economic planning, will be established to replace the current eight regional authorities and two assemblies; and • A single set of councillors for district and county levels, replacing the existing dual mandate for many Councillors. Councillors will also have wider functions at district level to ensure that the needs of their communities are fully represented and met.

• A standardised commercial rate across each county to be introduced over a period of 10 years. Also, the level of vacancy refund of rates will be standardised at a rate of 50% nationally in line with current practices in Dublin, Cork and Limerick cities; • Greater involvement in and oversight of local authority budgets by members. In particular municipal district members will have delegated powers to decide programmes of works to be carried out within their district;

Local Councils will be given a greater say in local enterprise and economic development and in local and community development activities. The reforms provide for the alignment of the local community development sector with local government through the establishment of Local Community Development Committees, which will be mandated to prepare Local Community Plans to bring strategic coordination to the millions of euro spent each year on local and community development initiatives. There will also be a new Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) for Economic Development in each Council to: • Prepare local action plans to guide and foster economic activity and stimulate job creation within the area; and • Provide the planning, oversight and accountability of the new Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), which will replace the County Enterprise Boards.

The Bill also provides for a range of measures to support local democracy, to strengthen governance and ensure that there is greater accountability for the delivery of local services. In particular, the Bill provides for a rebalancing of responsibilities between the elected members and the Council executive, to further strengthen the decision-making powers of Councillors for the benefit of the communities and

• A new National Oversight and Audit Commission for Local Government (NOAC) will be established to provide independent scrutiny of local government performance and in providing value for money for service delivery. NOAC reports will be made public and the Chief Executive will prepare an implementation plan to address any issues raised by the NOAC. • The Bill also provides for a plebiscite in 2014 to allow the people of Dublin to decide for themselves if an office of a directly elected mayor should be established for the greater Dublin area.

The Minister emphasised that the local government reforms are an essential step forward in the Governmentʼs wider reform programme and his intention to see the Bill enacted by the end of the year to ensure the necessary provisions are in place well before the local elections in 2014.

“This Government was elected with a strong mandate for reform. We have already shown our bona fides in delivering significant reforms to the financial sector, major reforms of the Oireachtas, measures to increase the number of women in politics and to make political funding more transparent..This legislation is just one in a series of measures to deliver a better, more efficient and relevant local government system. We are also working to ensure the financial stability of local authorities with the local property tax so that your taxes work for your own communities.

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PRODUCT PRODUCTinfo info

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The bioTank treatment unit is made from 40N concrete which is a very high strength concrete that will strengthen over time. We are so confident of this product that we provide a 30 year warranty on any structural defects. The treatment unit is a single structure which means it is easier, more economical and requires less space to install than a standard septic tank. There are no mechanical parts within the treatment unit which keeps maintenance and running costs to a minimum. The treatment unit also supports the standard influent range now insisted upon by many county councils.

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Environmentally Friendly and Innovative Chewing Gum Removal Solution

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eath Jetting

service new Chewing Gum Removal service is the best and quickest way to have chewing gum removed from any area Before After requiring chewing gum removal. By using a constant supply of vaporized chemical with a combination of pressure heat and cleaning solution at point of contact means the chewing gum is removed quickly and efficiently.

Meath Jetting serviceʼs Chewing Gum Removal Service is completely silent and has no trailing leads or generator is required chewing gum cleaning can be carried out at any time even when streets are busy. It is environmentally friendly and the unique cleaning solution is manufactured from renewable sources. The chewing gum removal solution is based on a sugar surfactant making it completely bio degradable.

The gum is broken down to dust and it is just swept away.

Meath Jetting serviceʼs Chewing Gum Removal Service will bring paving back to its original conditions.

Unlike most chewing gum removal systems, this proprietary system does not use steam or high-pressure cleaners or harsh abrasives. Rather, it uses a non-toxic,environmentally-safe, chemical derived from sugar cane to gently agitate the gum.

The chemical is warmed in a special backpack and then applied to the gum using a lance with a small wire brush.

The residue can then be swept away.

The system is so safe that the operator can walk around removing each piece of gum without any need to close off areas or otherwise affect pedestrian traffic.

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For more information on Meath Jetting Serviceʼs call Ph: 01 8354739 or 087 8253440 E-mail: meathjettingservices@gmail.com

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PRODUCT PRODUCTinfo info Steinhardt Mobile Flood Barrier System In recent years Ireland has woken up to the catastrophic effects that climate change can have on our small island perched on the edge of the Atlantic ocean. An approximate increase of 0.5% in temperature has been accompanied by a 5% increase in rainfall, as if we were not already the wettest country in Europe.

System. Designed to replace the outdated sandbag method, it provides an efficient easy-to-install flood barrier which can be erected in a flash when flooding is predicted.

The Steinhardt system incorporates stainless steel frames which can be free-standing or fixed to existing gateways or doorways, and lightweight aluminium panels which slot down into them to give a completely watertight seal during flood conditions.

Barriers can be as short as a pedestrian doorway or kilometres long in the case of rivers or seashores.

It goes without saying that we need to be prepared.

We have, by now, a good idea of where we expect flooding to occur. But how do we protect life and property in a practical and cost effective way?

Steinhardt “Stop-Logs” are a simple, practical and above all, cost-effective way to reduce the damage running into millions of euro that can be caused by a lack of preparedness.

OʼReilly Oakstown Ltd of Trim Co Meath , more familiar as manufacturers of Wastewater Treatment Plants and Rainwater harvesting systems, supply and install the Steinhardt Mobile Flood Barrier

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We would invite anyone with properties at risk to call us at OʼReilly Oakstown Ltd. for a free consultation.

Tel: 046 943 1389 Fax: 046 943 7054 E-mail: info@oreillyoakstown.com

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PRODUCT PRODUCTinfo info

Where do road sweepers go in winter? fter a busy autumn clearing leaves and windtumbled debris from the side of our roads, many road-sweeping machines have a bit of a slack period when the snow covers the litter, or it is frozen to the ground, or it is covered by rock-salt which at least is keeping the gutters clear and unfrozen. However, as our picture indicates, there is no reason why these machines cannot be kept busy throughout the winter period. Scarab, who manufacture a wide range of efficient and environmentally friendly sweepers, have recently added an Azura flex to their demonstration fleet to address this very issue. Together they have coupled the AZURA Flex with a snow blade and an Epoke PMH 1.4 drop spreader.

are and public expectation high, coping with short term severe weather can be a real challenge. This idea allows local authorities to very quickly convert their Scarab road sweeping equipment into a resource for gritting smaller areas; ensuring the safety of the public, while getting these extra resources at very low cost.

John Saint, Product Manager (Winter Maintenance) at Scarab explains what lies behind the notion of fitting a spreader to the back of an AZURA Flex road sweeper.”For us itʼs all about synergy and cost effective use of resources. In the UK we have very unpredictable winters, sometimes pretty extreme, like last winter, sometimes largely mild. But a cold snap can occur, pretty much at any time between the start of November and the end of April. The problem is that local authorities have to be able to cope with these conditions, but with budgets stretched as thin as they

This is a fascinating idea that could very swiftly gain traction amongst local authorities. Having to squeeze ever more service delivery from an ever tightening budget has focussed the minds of every municipal fleet manager in the country over the last five years.

This is a low-cost way of ensuring that councils can react more swiftly and more effectively to the inconveniences of a typical British winter, and makes maximum use of existing resources which might otherwise be lying idle.

A

Many Councils find it difficult to ensure that they have all the right equipment for keeping the main thoroughfares open, and also to keep the side roads as clear as possible, But the Scarab Azura Flex is designed to work where the road is too narrow for most standard gritters, because of parked cars lined along both sides of the road. The whole point is that municipal authorities can now address these issues when they arise by swiftly coupling an Epoke drop spreader from Scarab to their Sweeper or mini tractor.”

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ESS Safeforce Opens First Depot in Ireland SS Safeforce, who are part of the VP plc group of companies, and specialist suppliers

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of site safety, survey and communications equipment, has opened their first depot in Ireland.

seven years. The ESS Safeforce product portfolio complements the extensive range of products we currently offer to our customers within the construction and utility sectors.

It also opens up new business opportunities within other markets, particularly manufacturing, and with Ireland emerging from its recession and starting to show real signs of recovery and growth, we feel this is the right time for further investment and are pleased to be creating employment opportunities.”

ESS Safeforce will offer a comprehensive range of specialist training courses, which includes, Road and Streetworks, Working at Height, plus a range of Confined Space and Rescue courses. They currently have a five year service and training agreement with the Northern Ireland Special Hazardous Response Team, and have recently been involved with writing the new national police policy on confined space working and search, for the Police National Improvement Agency (NPIA) in the UK.

Members of the Portlaoise Hire Desk and Operations Team, plus Liam Brew (General Manager) in the centre and Andy Cull (Operations Director – ESS Safeforce) 2nd from right and Ross Gibbons (Regional Operations Manager –ESS Safeforce)

Located in Clane, Co. Kildare, this new depot will stock the full catalogue of ESS Safeforce equipment for hire and sale, and will offer mobile workshop facilities to customers in Ireland. There will also be a wide range of specialist training courses available, with a dedicated confined space training facility to open early in 2014.

For more than twenty years ESS Safeforce has supplied businesses within, and affiliated to the construction industry, with an extensive range of products and services, including equipment for site surveying, environmental inspection, working at height and communication. They also offer a ʻtotal solutionsʼ safety package, specifically designed for working within confined spaces and hazardous environments, which includes fall arrest systems, gas detection monitors, breathing apparatus and general safety equipment.

This new venture is part of an ongoing European expansion and investment program by the Vp group who already has a well-established local operating company, Groundforce, who are Irelandʼs leading supplier of excavation support equipment.

ESS Safeforce Technician & on right Eoghan OʼFlaherty newly recruited technician

Additional services include the unique ESS Safeforce mobile workshop facility. This means a customerʼs safety equipment can be conveniently serviced at their own sites, reducing downtime and costs.

Liam Brew, General Manager explained the groupʼs decision to open a dedicated hire and sales depot for ESS Safeforce in Ireland. “This is a natural progression for the Vp group and follows on from the success of our Groundforce business over the last

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ESS Safeforce products and services are available from their new site, Unit A6, Clane Business Park, Clane. Co Kildare

Tel: 1890 882 368.

Email: ireland@ess-safeforce.com

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We all depend on clean water to live and to enjoy good health.

Small amounts of phosphate released into rivers and lakes can lead to eutrophication (excessive growth of algae and depletion of oxygen in water). If you are a householder or farmer in a rural area, you can make a difference by making sure that your septic tank system functions properly and that farmyard soiled water is collected and disposed of safely.

To find out more about Ireland's water quality and how you can help our environment cleanse, check out the EPA water quality reports, accessible at www.epa.ie/downloads/pubs