Local Authority News - Vol. 38 . No. 3

03/09/2019

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• The Public Private Partnership Model: Delivering Value for Ireland • SEAI supporting Local Authorities to charge the electric vehicle transition • What does the EU’s Circular Economy Package mean for Ireland?

• Dublin City Council awards Energy Performance Contracts to upgrade its Sports Centres

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CONTENTS Vol 38. No 3.

FEATURES

Cover photograph courtesy of DCC & Fennell Photography.

Published by:

DARKIN EV – THE FUTURE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING

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SEAI SUPPORTING LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO CHARGE THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE TRANSITION

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GAS NETWORKS IRELAND – BREAKING NEW GROUND WITH DIAL BEFORE YOU DIG ONLINE

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A YEAR DOWN THE LINE...(FIREBIRD)

GILTRON LTD RIVERVIEW LODGE, DUBLIN ROAD, NAVAN, CO. MEATH. Tel: 00353 46 9072841 Email: info@localauthoritynews.ie Website: www.localauthoritynews.ie

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, State-Sponsored and Development Bodies and Agencies.

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THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP MODEL: DELIVERING VALUE FOR IRELAND (KAJIMA) 15 SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL RISING TO THE HOUSING CHALLENGE

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GRANT AERONA3 R32 13KW AND 17KW AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMPS RECEIVE QUIET MARK RECOGNITION

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REDUCING CO2, CORK CITY TO ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITIES

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DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL AWARDS ENERGY PERFORMANCE CONTRACTS TO UPGRADE ITS SPORTS CENTRES

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EI LAUNCHES 3000 SERIES – FIRE AND CO ALARMS FOR FULL CIRCLE PROTECTION

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WHAT DOES THE EU’S CIRCULAR ECONOMY PACKAGE MEAN FOR IRELAND? (REPAK) 30 LOCAL AUTHORITY SATISFACTION SURVEY 2019

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REGULARS IRISH WATER UPDATES

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DEPARTMENT BREIFS

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CLASSIFIEDS

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AWARD-WINNING DARKIN GROUP LAUNCHES NEW DIVISION THAT SPECIALISTS IN EV CHARGING SOLUTIONS FOR THE DOMESTIC, COMMERCIAL AND FLEET MANAGEMENT SECTORS…

Darkin EV – the future of electric vehicle charging DarkinEv – A Division of Darkin Electrical GroupHeaded up by David Dunning, who has extensive experience within the EV sector. DarkinEv has been driven by the demand for charging facilities that are needed to support the fast-growing popularity of electrical vehicles in Ireland.

DarkinEv – are focused on providing expert guidance alongside the design, supply and installation of EV charging units, DarkinEv has solution to meet the requirements of home, work and public environments.

With six years’ experience in the EV charger industry, David brings with him a wealth of expertise and technical knowledge. This is enhanced further by his attention to detail and dedication to customer service which matches the innovative culture of Darkin Electrical Group to create a combination that will give customers confidence in this new field of business.

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SEAI supporting Local Authorities to charge the electric vehicle transition While transport continues to dominate Ireland’s energy profile, accounting for 34.6% of primary consumption in 2017 (254 GWh of which was attributed to Local Authorities), momentum surrounding the sustainable transport transition is building. The opportunities this sector presents have never been more attractive, and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is supporting Local Authorities to capitalise on them.

With more than 12,500 battery electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles on Irish roads, and the total cost of ownership predicted to reach parity with diesel and petrol vehicles by the mid-2020s (without grant aid), a step-up in the adoption of electric vehicle technology and sustainable transport practices is evident, however further action is required. Through partnership, best practice information and training, technical advisory and funding support, amongst other activities, SEAI is mobilising Local Authorities to reduce and decarbonise their transport energy use.

In May this year, following the success of the SEAI/AIEA Local Authority Transport event and Local Authority workshop on EV charging infrastructure, SEAI hosted its first EVs for business event. Targeted at energy and fleet managers across both public and private sectors, with expert speakers discussing the national and international EV outlook, fleet conversion, charging infrastructure and cost and data management, this event invited attendees to explore the modern challenges around this emerging technology and the practical solutions which can solve them.

Case studies from DĂşn Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Inland Fisheries Ireland and Sisk spoke loudly of the key ingredients that enable successful integration of EVs into your fleet - understanding transport needs, managing the practical implications of electrification, securing senior management commitment, applying a structured approach, and supporting staff through awareness and training. Common misconceptions around range anxiety were dispelled, with Inland Fisheries Ireland proving that EVs are not just made for the urban environment.

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Meanwhile, on the 26th of August, the Government announced a new scheme for the rollout of on-street charge points. Set amongst the other SEAI and government incentives for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, this new funding scheme, managed by SEAI, will provide local authorities with capital supports of 75% of the cost (up to maximum of €5,000) per charge point for the development of up to 200 on-street charge points per annum.

There are more and more electric vehicles visible on our roads and the ambition across the policy landscape will both reinforce and scale this transition. The Climate Action Plan envisages up to 840,000 passenger EVs, 61,000 delivery vans and 34,000 electric trucks on our roads by 2030. The revised Clean Vehicles Directive has broadened its scope to include vehicle leasing and service contracts, setting a new definition of ‘clean vehicle’, and introducing minimum procurement targets. The amended Energy Performance of Buildings Directive sets down requirements for the installation of charging infrastructure in new builds (or buildings undergoing major renovation) to be applied from March next year and obligations for existing buildings will come into effect by 2025. In addition, the European Commission recently published new voluntary green public procurement criteria for road transport and, through the Climate Action Fund, ESB E-cars have been awarded 10 million euro to develop a network of fast-charging hubs between our major urban areas.

SEAI will continue to facilitate peer to peer exchange, rollout best practice guidance and provide tailored events to meet Local Authority needs. These supports aim to further mobilise this sector to achieve their energy ambitions, for both internal operations and the administrative jurisdictions they serve. As a sector with energy intensive requirements, equating to 23% of the public sector energy consumption, Local Authorities have significant opportunity to accelerate the sustainable transport transformation and drive Ireland towards a low carbon economy.

If you would like to learn more about our EV scheme or how SEAI’s public sector programme can support you on your sustainable transport journey, check out SEAI’s new EVs for Business webpage, sign up to the transport Community of Practice on Energy Link and get in touch with us: evgrantsscheme@seai.ie or publicsector@seai.ie

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Unit L1, Baldonnell Business Park, Baldonnell, Dublin 22, D22 H295.

Phone: +353 (0) 1 461 9800 Web: www.tsg-solutions.com/ie/tsg-charge/ The world of mobility is changing and we at TSG Ireland are excited to be evolving with it.

Adoption rates of Electric Vehicles are rapidly increasing all across Europe as governments are incentivising the public, municipalities and businesses to invest in electrifying their fleet.

At TSG, we have already built a vast network of technicians and electricians that provide services to EV charging facilities across Europe and Ireland.

TSG is proud to announce that it has reached the milestone of over 13,000 charging locations installed across Europe delivering on projects with renowned brands such as DHL, Jaguar Land Rover, BP, Mercedes, BMW and IntermarchĂŠ.

The Outdoor Payment Terminal from TSG interfaces to our charge points to provide online payment processing for credit, debit, pre-paid, Fuel, EMV and contactless cards. All this is safely enclosed in a fraud protective housing that is EMV and PCI UPT certified.

Contact us for more details on the EV charging services that TSG Ireland can provide for you.

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Gas Networks Ireland – breaking new ground with Dial Before You Dig Online Gas Networks Ireland(GNI), the operator of Ireland’s gas network is launching a new online version of its Dial Before You Dig mapping service in October. The new online service, which complements the existing Dial Before You Dig phone and email service will make it easier than ever to check whether there are underground gas pipes on a site before you commence work. The easy-to-use Dial Before You Dig Online can be accessed at www.gasnetworks.ie.

Throughout Ireland, vast underground networks of pipes and cables supply vital utilities including gas, water, electricity and telecommunication services, operating safely and efficiently, day and night, to keep Ireland functioning. But when these utilities are damaged by construction work it can cause major disruption, or even serious injury or death.

Gas Networks Ireland operates the 14,390 km national gas network, which supplies clean, affordable and efficient natural gas to over 700,000 homes, businesses and industries across Ireland. Gas Networks Ireland is responsible for the safety of the gas network.

Last year, there were 550 incidents of damage to the low and medium pressure gas distribution networks, mostly in urban and suburban locations and there were nearly 50 instances of unauthorised excavation near the high-pressure gas transmission network, mostly located in rural areas. In the first half of 2019, there have already been nearly 350 incidents of damage to the distribution network – a sharp increase, driven by the current construction boom.

A key control to prevent this risk of damage is access to utility maps from utility owners. All utility owners operate systems to provide maps of their pipes and cables on request. In 2018, the GNI Dial Before You Dig service dealt with nearly 10,000 such requests and has already seen a 15% increase in requests in the first half of 2019, compared to the same period in 2018.

The new online service makes it easier than ever to ensure a safe dig. Users can select the location they want drawings for, check out the gas network at that location and have the drawings emailed to them. Vital drawings, that would normally take 48 hours or longer to arrive, will be available in minutes, day or night.

Owen Wilson, Networks Safety Manager with Gas Networks Ireland, said “Any responsible contractor will want to make sure that they operate a safe site. Obtaining maps of underground services is a critical step when planning any excavation. Our new online Dial Before You Dig service can provide these drawings far quicker and easier than ever before.”

Paul O’Brien, Gas Networks Ireland Design Services Manager with responsibility for the Dial Before You Dig service, added “Before we embarked on developing this new system, we surveyed users of our current system and asked them what they’d like from an online system. We’ve incorporated their feedback into this service so we’re really confident that it will deliver everything that users want and more”.

Users who prefer phone or email will still be able to contact Gas Networks Ireland by calling 1850 42 77 47 or emailing dig@gasnetworks.ie to request maps as they have always done.

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A Year Down the Line...

Firebird Heating Solutions - Envirogreen Popular Model

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Firebird Heating Solutions – FB 2 K LN Low NOx Burner

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How To: Mix concrete Do you need to mix concrete for a DIY project at home, like a path or a patio? Are you unsure about the correct ratio of cement, sand and gravel to mix? Would you know what to do if you have added too much water to the mix?

Would you find a concrete calculator useful for your project?

The answers to these and many more questions can be found by visiting Irish Cement’s new dedicated website irishcement.ie/howto You will find three helpful short videos on planning the job and how to mix concrete by either shovel or mixer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0v zOkRs3ec

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaK g2TfNpbA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0v zOkRs3ec

Video no. 1, deals with planning a concrete project. Taking a little time to properly plan the project will save time and help make it a success. Depending on the size of the project the video provides guidance on the best way to mix the concrete: by shovel, mixer or when to order ready-mix concrete.

Video no. 2, details all you need to know about mixing concrete by shovel. It provides a simple ‘rule of thumb’ to help with the mix ratios, stresses the importance of measuring all the ingredients and adding the right amount of water. It also shows the viewer what to do if they have added too much water.

Video no. 3, for slightly bigger concrete jobs, shows how to mix concrete in a tumble mixer; the correct sequence to add the ingredients and what to watch out for to ensure perfect concrete.

The site also has a handy ‘concrete calculator’ that lists out the materials you will need for general purpose concrete projects by simply entering the measurements of your project into three boxes.

Irish Cement has launched these ‘how to’ videos and concrete calculator following feedback from customers.

The videos are simple to follow and provide step by step guidance and useful tips for general purpose concrete to help you get started on that DIY concrete project.

Irish Cement, a CRH company, is Ireland’s leading manufacturer and supplier of high quality cement in bags and bulk for over 80 years. Irish Cement has been trusted by professionals for generations.

For more information visit irishcement.ie

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The Public Private Partnership Model: Delivering Value for Ireland In July the Irish Government’s social housing Public Private Partnerships (PPP) programme moved into its next phase, with the Torc Consortium being selected as the preferred bidder to progress the initiative towards Financial Close and then into construction and operation.

Among the companies in the consortium – which includes Dublin based contractor Obrascón Huarte Lain SA and Galway’s JJ Rhatigan & Company – is highly experienced PPP manager and long-term investor Kajima Partnerships. Below, we hear from Kajima’s Project Director for PPP in Ireland, Craig Smailes, on the broader context of the project and why PPP in Ireland is vital to assist the Government’s long term aims.

Value for money The Irish Government continues to use PPP as a key route to deliver public infrastructure – but, crucially, only where it demonstrates clear value for money. It’s this focus on the value proposition which enables the Government to be selective in its use of PPP, only applying it to projects where it is clearly the most appropriate Craig Smailes procurement option. Along with the social housing programme, Irish Ministers have announced the use of PPPs across a range of areas, including healthcare education justice and roads. Moreover, the recent successful completion of 14 Primary Care Centres across the country, including sites at Westport, Carrick On Suir, Ballymote and Dungarvin, demonstrates the viability of PPP to deliver across all parts of the country, not just in the big cities.

Furthermore, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance have indicated that PPP procurement will be considered when seeking to achieve the goals set out in the National Development Plan.

Further benefits Using careful assessment of bid applications – balancing quality of build with value for money – means PPP can deliver well designed, cost effective, quality public sector buildings. What’s more, capital improvements and ongoing maintenance during the contractual period ensures that assets are handed over and thereafter maintained in optimum condition – increasing the assets’ lifetime and ultimately their economic value.

On top of this, speed and efficiency of delivery can be aided through the use of PPP. As seen in the recent social housing PPP programme, the Irish Government successfully delivered procurement models which allow for follow-on projects to be commissioned more quickly. This is because all participants become familiar with requirements, leading to shorter lead-in times, agreed risk positions and the ability to build partnerships based on a pipeline of opportunity, which in turn enables supply chain selection to focus on economies of scale.

Regularly appraising value As with any investment programme, it is important to regularly appraise value through benefit realisation audits. But if the whole-life costs of assets are transparent and taken into account properly at the start of a project, then the rigorous performance regime that all PPPs must operate within means that Governments can work productively towards delivering efficient public assets.

Ultimately, PPP projects can be a cost-effective way for the public sector to engage the private sector and drive the construction of new investment projects, bringing social and economic benefits to the whole of Ireland.

Author: Craig Smailes

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SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL RISING TO THE HOUSING CHALLENGE new community of up to 11,000 new homes planned for South Dublin County on the lands that make up the Clonburris Strategic Development Zone was recently approved by An Bord Pleanála, subject to modifications. The land, comprising approximately 280 hectares, is located between the established communities of Lucan, Clondalkin and Liffey Valley. The lands have been designated by the Government as a Major Urban Housing Development Site and could provide homes for a population of over 21,000.

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South Dublin County Council is confident that Clonburris will have a central role to play in addressing the demand for new housing in Dublin.

The scale and potential of the Clonburris scheme, together with existing unique selling points, including the Grand Canal, Griffeen Valley Park and the Kildare rail line, offer an excellent starting point for the development of a forward thinking, innovative and vibrant community in South Dublin County.

The approved Planning Scheme will include the provision of three primary and three post-primary schools.

Approximately 72% of the housing will be located within 500 metres of schools and approximately 98% of residents will be able to access a bus stop within 400 metres or train station within 800 metres, significantly reducing dependence on the private car.

The lands will be serviced by two train stations at Kishoge and Clondalkin/Fonthill, approximately a 15-minute train journey from Dublin City Centre. Three Regional Roads, including the Outer Ring Road, connect the lands to the N4 and N7 National Routes.

Daniel McLoughlin, Chief Executive of South Dublin County Council said, ‘The coordinated development of the lands at Clonburris represents an opportunity for South Dublin County to directly respond to the demand for new housing in Dublin. The approved Planning Scheme for the Strategic Development Zone will allow the construction of housing in close coordination with the delivery of public transport infrastructure, schools, community facilities, parks, retail and employment-related development. South Dublin County Council welcomes the decision of An Bord Pleanála”.

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To promote the development, South Dublin County Council set up a standalone website at www.clonburris.ie to keep stakeholders and interested parties fully up to date on the planning process and any future developments.

The Clonburris Strategic Development Zone Planning Scheme was recently announced as one of the shortlisted projects in the Enhancing the Urban Environment category at the upcoming Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards.

The Awards, sponsored by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, are held to recognise and celebrate the outstanding work being carried out by Local Authorities all over Ireland. The awards will be presented on Thursday, 28th November in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Northwood Park, Santry Demesne, Dublin 9.

The Clonburris decision is just the latest good news story from South Dublin County Council when it comes to its housing output in 2019.

Almost 1,000 New Homes Approved For Kilcarbery Following a detailed master planning and competitive tender process that concluded in 2018, South Dublin County Council have also agreed on the joint venture development of 975 homes on 72 acres of council lands at Kilcarbery in Clondalkin, Dublin 22.

The mixed tenure development which will include 294 social housing units (30% of the development) is the first of its kind envisaged as part of the major urban sites initiative under “Rebuilding Ireland”.

Prior to tender, the Council invested over six months and €500,000 on detailed advance studies including site investigations, archaeological investigations, ecology and environmental impact studies and traffic impact analysis.

This is part of what the Council labels the “de-risking process” which gives potential joint venture partners confidence in the context of planning and associated risk analysis. The architectural framework plan established an overall design strategy for the site to guide the development of detailed designs thereby ensuring compliance with National and Local Development plan standards.

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The Tender process which commenced in April 2017 involved the shortlisting of an initial nine submissions down to four who engaged with the Council in competitive dialogue before the successful tender was announced.

The successful bid by Adwood Ltd. is a consortium of established Dublin builders Adroit and Maplewood.

Adwood Ltd. will pay the council €38m and deliver 294 social housing units at competitive rates over four years.

In return for state support through the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) of €2m, the developer has also committed to delivering 50 units at prices discounted to the market.

The 681 private houses include a comprehensive range of 3 and 4-bed houses as well as 272 one, two and three-bed apartments.

Exceeding Rebuilding Ireland Targets Figures released earlier this year by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government showed more than 1,787 additional households were supported by South Dublin County Council though social housing solutions in 2018, representing 115% of the Council’s Rebuilding Ireland target set for the year.

South Dublin County Council’s figures included: • 593 homes added to the social housing stock – 110% of the target • New stock includes 475 builds - 125% of the target • 1194 additional households supported though HAP and RAS Speaking on exceeding the Rebuilding Ireland targets, Colm Ward, Director of Services for Housing, Social and Community Development, said, “Local authority housing, once built or acquired, is state-owned; it is an investment that will continue to provide for those in need of housing into the future.

Local authorities currently own and manage more than 130,000 homes around the country, each additional unit provided by local authorities is added to that stock. That is why it is so important to ensure the homes we deliver are well-planned, built to last, of high-quality, and situated within communities and with nearby services.

“While we build up our stock of social housing, supports like the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), administered through local authorities, provide us with a flexible way to provide accommodation for those in need.”

MyDoorStep In addition to delivering on social housing targets, South Dublin County Council also looked at demystifying the home buying experience for people moving to the County through the launch of its MyDoorStep property and planning portal.

MyDoorStep is a walk-in service centre at its headquarters at County Hall, Tallaght, Dublin 24, which is replicated online at www.mydoorstep.ie. This digital information platform provides buyers with all of the detail needed to make the most informed decision possible when purchasing a home. MyDoorStep combines information on current and planned housing developments in any location in South Dublin County with detail on childcare, education, health, recreation, retail and sporting facilities across the County.

MyDoorStep streamlines this information through one source and allows access from home or at the Council’s headquarters, cutting out the potential multiple enquiries a prospective buyer would need to make at present.

Visitors to County Hall, Tallaght, will also be guided through the portal by knowledgeable Council staff from its Land Use, Planning and Transportation department.

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City & Guilds Chainsaw Combi Grass Maintenance Quad Bike /All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Safepass Sign, Light & Guarding (SLG) Location of Underground Services (LUGS) Other Health & Safety courses Contact: Rosemary McTeague: 086 185 2337 / 071 966 3952 Eugene Doyle: 086 811 7986 / 0505 315 88

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Retrofit Design Ltd was established in 2009 by Managing Director, David McKeown with the aim of providing Energy Efficient Solutions throughout Ireland, the company has developed into a highly skilled competent proven team of professionals responsible for managing high profile works nationwide.

Retrofit Design Ltd. We have seen significant growth over the years progressing from Cavity & Attic Insulation initially to becoming one of the market leading companies in Ireland that specialises in the Deep Retrofitting Industry, utilising the most up to date systems and technology available. The company has been involved with a significant number of County Councils and Corporations throughout Ireland consistently delivering high quality work. We at Retrofit Design Ltd are committed to providing the highest quality service installations for all services provided to our customers.

Ph: 00353 66 9762746 E-mail: retrofitdesignltd@gmail.com Website: www.retrofitdesignltd.com

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Reducing CO2, Cork City to engage with Communities "It is almost one year since Interreg Europe gave the green light for the INTENSIFY project to proceed.

The project is valued at €2,092,000 of which Cork City will receive €283,125. The project is designed to build upon the demonstration projects that Cork City Council has undertaken to improve the energy efficiency of its social housing stock. Thus far one hundred and twenty nine apartments and over two hundred houses have benefitted from the scheme with an expenditure of over €7m. This year an additional €5,000,000 will be added to that sum to deep energy retrofit 84 apartment and 50 houses.

The benefits can be seen in reduced carbon emissions, lower heating bills and better quality living for the residents of improved housing stock.

Vanessa Pulgarin-Auguilla from ERVIA speaking in Vitoria-Gasteiz

However it is crucial that these improvements become embedded in the community, the city and the region; so that people will set about improving the energy efficiency of their homes with the same mindset they would set about improving any other aspect of there home. It is not about the savings, though that can help it is about reducing carbon footprint, improving the quality of the home and improving habitability.

INTENSIFY seeks to engage with communities in the Southern Region of Ireland to improve their awareness of the need for and benefits of reducing their carbon footprint. The project is designed around four themes (1) Targeting communities (2) Motivating the targeted communities (3) utilising financial instruments to fund the carbon footprint reducing measures and (4) utilising digital social platforms to get the message across.

Four workshops have been held to enhance the project participants understanding of these themes. The first was held in Milton Keynes by Milton Keynes Council. Brian Matthews from the Milton Keynes Sustainable Transport Section demonstrated how the cities electric vehicle experience centre was targeting citizens to encourage them to switch to electric cars (https://www.evexperiencecentre.co.uk). The experience centre has played a substantial part in ensuring that ownership in Milton Keynes at 5% of the population is twice the UK average.

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The second Workshop in Treviso, Italy focused on motivating communities. Davide Tochetto of the Treviso school of agriculture demonstrated how the school authorities set about motivating the students to change their habits when consuming energy whether it be in the transport, buildings or agricultural sector.

Davide emphasised that it was important to ensure that students were taught best practise techniques in order to reduce their energy consumption/carbon footprint.

Catherine Sheridan, Communications manager with Irish utility company ERVIA gave an example of successful community engagement by that company when installing a new sewer network. Catherine stated that for communities to be motivated their interests and ERVIAs interests had to be aligned. They needed common goals in order to succeed.

The third workshop in DessauRoĂ&#x;lau, Germany focused on the use of financial instruments. Dan Creuptland of the European Renewable Energy Cooperative umbrella body RESCoop and Rita Marauco of the Portuguese renewable energy cooperative CoopĂŠrnico both highlighted the challenges faced by and the opportunities open to people who set up renewable energy cooperatives. Such projects are capital intensive, sporadic in nature and have the bulk of the expenditure frontloaded. They have a narrow time frame in which to seek crowd funding and many times the projects are, in most cases over subscribed.

To maximise their return on investment, many European countries will have to review their regulations surrounding exporting electricity to the grid.

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The fourth and final workshop to be held in Vitoria-Gasteiz will focus on digital social platforms. There are many such online platforms e.g.

Facebook, Linked In, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Websites etc. Websites are very useful information repositories.

Many others facilitate communications with an external audience.

WhatsApp and Instagram are very useful for internal communications. On completion of this workshop project participants will have enhanced knowledge on how to maximise the use of the internet to engage with communities.

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Participants from nine european regions attend workshop in Vitoria-Gasteiz

With the thematic workshops now complete, the focus of the project partners must turn towards compiling a list of good practices in each partners region on the subjects of intensifying community engagement to Green House Gases. These good practices will inform the next phase of learning for the project partners – The import workshops (IW). Cork City and the Southern Irish Region have a number of excellent good practices in this area which they will share with the project partners.

In Tandem with the collection of good practices each partner region will over the summer carry out a baseline survey to establish the level of awareness amongst the general population in each partner region of the actions they can take to reduce their GHG emissions."

Catherine Sheridan from ERVIA speaking at the INTENSIFY event in Treviso

Brian Cassidy, Senior Executive Engineer, Cork City Council

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Ei launches 3000 Series – Fire and CO Alarms for Full Circle Protection Ei, Ireland’s market leader in domestic mains powered Fire and Carbon Monoxide (CO) detection, has launched the new 3000 Series. This technologically advanced series detects both Fire and CO and includes, for the very first time, a Multi-Sensor Heat & CO Alarm, providing whole property coverage from one series.

3000 Series “The 3000 Series represents one of the most significant advances of the Ei product range in recent years” states Ei’s Sales & Product Applications Manager for Ireland, Tom Meehan.

“It’s the coming together of the very latest alarm technologies with Ei’s reputation for unbeatable reliability and quality. We refer to the 3000 Series as having ‘intelligent simplicity’ – we’ve built intelligence in to every alarm whilst ensuring simplicity for every install.”

Multi-sensor Heat and CO Alarm Unique to the 3000 Series, the Ei3028 Multi-Sensor Heat & CO Alarm has been much anticipated as a convenient, cost-effective, efficient solution to protecting residents from both Fire and CO. With high heat sources from cooking appliances posing a potential fire hazard and gas fuelled appliances representing a potential source of CO, combining Heat and CO detection in one alarm is a sensible approach, welcomed by landlords, contractors and residents alike.

In addition to the Ei3028 Multi-Sensor Heat & CO Alarm, the 3000 Series incorporates a mains powered DualSensor Fire Alarm and single sensor Optical, Heat & CO Alarms. All alarms in the Series use the same easifit base (a first for Ei CO Alarms) and feature intelligent sensors, AudioLINK data extraction and SmartLINK wireless interconnection and whole system data monitoring capability.

AudioLINK Data Extraction Technology Ei’s multiple award winning AudioLINK data extraction technology enables real time alarm data (e.g. number of times tested and details of alarm activations) to be extracted directly to a smartphone or tablet via an App which creates an Alarm Status Report. It identifies any issues enabling action to be taken immediately, which is effective for tenant safety and in reducing the cost of return visits to a property. AudioLINK also aids compliance for landlords, providing proof that alarms are working at the start of a new tenancy and with annual gas safety checks.

SmartLINK Technology Next generation Radio Frequency (RF) technology, SmartLINK enables alarms and system accessories to be interconnected using RF signals rather than hard wiring. Hard wired interconnection is time consuming, disruptive and costly in existing properties, whereas wireless interconnection is quick, easy and requires no redecorating. The new SmartLINK technology is smarter and easier to use than its predecessors and futureproof. What’s more, Ei is currently developing SmartLINK technology to enable a Gateway and Portal based system with real-time notifications.

All alarms in the 3000 Series are backwards compatible with existing Ei products, including the groundbreaking Ei450 Alarm Controller and Ei414 Fire/CO Alarm Interface.

The Launch As part of the official launch, Ei’s bespoke Mobile Training and Demo Unit will be hitting the road. The unit will be travelling the country, giving all customers a chance to get closer to products, technologies and learn about Standards and Regulations for free. This professional training is CPD accredited and specifically tailored to operations in Ireland. Add on modules are available to cater to different business needs. If you would like to know more about how you can book the Mobile Training and Demo Unit, email expertinstaller@eielectronics.ie

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What does the EU’s Circular Economy Package mean for Ireland?

Brian Walsh, Packaging Technologist, and Séamus Clancy, CEO, Repak, at the launch of the Repak Members’ Plastic Pledge Report 2018 with Minister Bruton.

The EU’s Circular Economy Package brings with it new challenges that mean we must rethink our relationship with plastics in order to achieve new higher recycling targets included in resulting EU Legislation.

The new Packaging & Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD) was approved by the EU in July 2018 and sets new plastic packaging recycling targets of 50% by 2025, rising to 55% by 2030. These targets will exclude recovery (e.g. through waste to energy). This new legislation must be transposed into Irish law in 2020.

New EU legislation will also include the modulation of fees for packaging placed on the market. This will require Repak and other producer responsibility schemes throughout Europe to charge fees to producers based on the recyclability the packaging they place on the market.

The Single Use Plastics (SUP) Directive also forms part of the EU’s Plastic strategy and is designed to help tackle plastic litter ending up in our oceans. It will include the following key measures: • Ban on items made from plastic where alternative material are available, for example plastic straws, plates, cutlery, cotton buds and packaging made from expanded polystyrene for on-the-go consumption.

• Consumption reduction targets for certain SUP items such as food containers made from plastics.

• Binding targets for recycled content in plastic bottles of up to 20% by 2025 and 30% by 2029.

• Design restrictions for plastic bottles will require caps to be tethered to plastic bottles.

• Separate collection targets set for plastic bottles of 77% by 2025 and 90% by 2029.

• Extended producer responsibility schemes for SUP items will require producers who place SUP items on the market to pay towards litter clean-up costs.

• The government will have to transpose the SUP Directive into Irish law by 2021.

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Ireland and Plastic Packaging Recycling In 2017, EPA packaging waste data showed that Ireland placed 1,038,409 tonnes of packaging on the Irish market. Of that, 280,673 tonnes was reported as plastic packaging. During 2017, 94,889 tonnes of plastic packaging was recycled back into plastics (34%), 123,145 tonnes was recovered through Waste to Energy facilities (44%) with the balance (22%) sent to landfill (Source: Waste Packaging Statistics for Ireland at http://www.epa.ie/nationalwastestatistics/packaging/). With plastic continuing to grow, it is estimated that in 2030, Ireland will need to recycle an additional 80,935 tonnes to meet the 55% PPWD plastic recycling target.

Businessman Bobby Kerr, soccer legend Paul McGrath, former All Ireland camogie winning champion Anna Geary, bestselling cookery author Roz Purcell and Olympic medallists Paul and Gary O’Donovan lead the charge to increase plastics recycling in Ireland, as advocates for Repak’s Team Green.

Repak Addresses the Challenge In September 2018, Repak launched its Plastic Packaging Recycling Strategy 2018-2030. It aims to assist Ireland in meeting its recycling targets, and to promote the design and production of plastic products that optimise use and recycling, in order to support the circular economy in a cost effective manner.

More recyclable plastic packaging is identified as a key step within that strategy and two producer relevant actions recommended are to commit to a Plastic Pledge to reduce plastic packaging waste and help Ireland to play its part in achieving the key goals set out within the EU Circular Economy Package, as well as strengthening the benefits of green procurement.

Therefore, in line with the launch of the Plastic Strategy, we also launched the Repak Members’ Plastic Pledge to help encourage better design of plastic packaging.

The report shows that a lot of businesses are ahead of the game in terms of the changes they are already making. As a result of activities already completed or due for completion this year, over 10,600 tonnes of plastic packaging will be diverted from waste, either through replacement of current plastic packaging with more recyclable versions, reduction in the weight of plastic packaging used, or complete removal where possible.

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What is the purpose of the Repak Members’ Plastic Pledge?

When Members sign up to the Repak Members’ Plastics Pledge, they pledge to achieve the following objectives.

1. Prioritise the prevention of plastic packaging waste by minimising avoidable single use packaging and promoting packaging reuse where possible.

2. Support Ireland to deliver the Circular Economy Package plastic recycling targets of 50% of all plastics by 2025 and 55% of all plastic packaging by 2030, as set by the European Commission.

3. Reduce complexity within the plastic packaging supply chain by simplifying polymer usage and eliminating non-recyclable components in all plastic packaging by 2030.

4. Help to build a circular economy for used plastic packaging in Ireland and Europe by increasing the use of plastic packaging with a recycled content.

5. Recognising the role that plastic plays in preserving a large number of food products, ensure our approach to plastic packaging reduction is aligned to Ireland‘s goal of a 50% reduction in food waste by 2030 as set out in Ireland’s food waste charter.

To date, over 90 Repak Members and business groups have signed the Repak Members’ Plastics Pledge.

Many of those Members have recognised the need for a rethink on how we design plastic packaging but are conscious of getting the balance right to ensure that product shelf life is not reduced.

What Has Been Achieved So Far? In May 2019, Repak launched its first report on the Repak Members’ Plastic Pledge, highlighting some of the key achievements and plans of these proactive businesses in relation to the five objectives of the pledge.

On average, projects have reduced plastic packaging by 11% and there are more than 120 programmes in progress by Repak Members, mostly aimed at increasing the recyclability of plastic packaging. We are also seeing some innovations in this area, such as more readily detectable black plastic packaging, to help solve some of the technical challenges associated with sorting these for recycling. Also some Repak Member businesses are responding to the challenge of incorporating recycled content into plastic packaging, aiming to achieve recycled content of, on average, 45% by 2025.

What’s Next?

While actively recruiting additional Members to sign up to the Pledge, we are continuing to collaborate with our Members and other important stakeholders to advocate, educate and lead positive change in this area.

We are also calling on everyone to play their part when it comes to plastic recycling. If everyone in Ireland recycled just one more piece of plastic every week we could recycle 250 million more pieces of plastic every year. Whether it’s at home, in school, at work or in your local community – join Team Green by signing our pledge and committing to recycling at least one more piece of plastic every week (repak.ie/teamgreen).

To find out more about Repak visit repak.ie

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DRYLOOS Ireland LTD provides sales, rental & full service contracts for ECO Friendly Dry Toilet Systems..

DryLoos Ireland is offering a 3 month trial of the Bio R21 Dry portable toilet to a Local Authority or other interested parties. These units are capable of large capacity usage and have male and female cubicles. The free of charge trial includes: 1. Full commissioning of the unit on site for operation 2. Service visits which can be scheduled and/or initiated by technical events 3. An all day telephone advise service.

Website http://www.dryloos.ie/Daio-BioR21.php You Tube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=23&v=-tB-aXykUms

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Majority of people are satisfied with their local authority but almost three quarters of young people know little about what their local authority does A new survey of the public attitude to local authorities has found that the majority of people (56%) are satisfied with their local authority and 69% feel that their Local Authority is working to make their area cleaner and greener.

However the vast majority (72%) of 18-25 year were least knowledgeable about their local council. By contrast 93% aged 65+ years had some knowledge of their council.

The findings are contained in the Local Authority Satisfaction Survey 2019 published today by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC). The survey is the second of three to be carried out by Ipsos MRBI for NOAC. The first survey was carried out in 2018 and covered 10 local authorities. The 2019 survey researched another 11 local authorities and the 2020 will survey the remaining 10. “While the general perception of local authorities is generally positive overall the surveys suggests that local councils need to be more proactive in communicating with those living in their area,� according to Colleen Savage chair of the NOAC Customer Survey subcommittee. She said that although the local authority areas surveyed were different in 2019 to 2018 the results were broadly similar.

Headline figures When asked a number of questions about their local councils the average responses over 2019 and 2018 were: * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Working to make their area cleaner and greener, 69% agreed Making a positive contribution to the quality of life in their area, 61% agreed Has improved the provision of local services over the years,61% agreed Working to make the area safe. Just over 60% agreed.

Satisfied with their local council. 56% Local council promotes economic activity, 52% agreed Local Council was doing a good job. 51% agreed Council cared about residents, 51% agreed Council was bureaucratic and difficult to deal with, 43% said yes Efficient and well run,.42% agreed They were well informed by their local council, 40% said that they were Local council is open and transparent, 34% agreed Local council provides good value for money, 28% agreed. Lack of knowledge about their council and its services was the main reason given.

Most important services According to the survey the most important services provided by councils fell into four main categories; roads and road safety, housing, amenities and environmental protection. Spontaneous awareness is low for all services except road maintenance (66%) and local authority housing (58%).

Direct contact About 1 in 3 people surveyed said that they contacted their council in the last 5 years, with housing topping the list of reasons for this contact.

Overall, over half were satisfied with how their query was handled (51%). Those who contacted their council in the last five years tended to be less satisfied with their council than those who didn’t (30% vs 7% dissatisfied).

This is likely to be a result of the overall outcome of how their query was handled, with 87% of those who had a positive experience indicating that they are satisfied with their council overall, compared to 13% of those who were unhappy with how their query was handled.

Good place to live & work

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On average 93% agreed that their local area is a good place to live and almost 80% agreed that their local area is a good place to work.. There was also a strong or very strong sense of belonging to their local area at 87%, although there was a variance between the larger and smaller council areas with 84% feeling a sense of belonging in the larger areas and 90% in the smaller areas.

The most important factor for making somewhere a good place to live/work were Wage Levels/Job prospect (81% in 2019 and 78% in 2018) and Affordable/decent housing (55% in 2019 and 52% in 2018)

The full survey details are available at www.noac.ie

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EU invests €35m to improve water quality in Carlingford Lough and Lough Foyle

Pamela Arthurs, East Border Region, Michael O'Leary, Irish Water, Sharon McMahon, Loughs Agency, Eoghan Murphy, TD, Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Gina McIntyre, SEUPB, Denis McMahon Permanent Secretary, DAERA, Paul Harper, NI Water and Matt Service, AFBI

Cross-border project which aims to improve water quality through enhanced wastewater treatment A major cross-border project which aims to improve water quality in Carlingford Lough and Lough Foyle through enhanced wastewater treatment was officially launched today in Derry.

The Shared Waters Enhancement & Loughs Legacy (SWELL) project, which has been awarded €35m under the EU’s INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body, will see the construction of new wastewater treatment works as well as upgrades to sewerage networks on both sides of the border to address wastewater pollution in Carlingford Lough and Lough Foyle.

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The four-year project – which is being led by Northern Ireland Water working in partnership with Irish Water, the Agri-Food Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Loughs Agency and East Border Region - will culminate in the development of a unique environmental legacy model that can be used to achieve further improvements in water quality in these shared waters.

Paul Harper, Director of Asset Delivery at NI Water, said: “Northern Ireland Water is pleased to be lead partner in this strategic EU-funded project which will improve wastewater treatment for an additional 10,000 people on a cross-border basis.

“The project provides a welcome opportunity for both water utilities to work collaboratively to prioritise and align projects in a coordinated way so as to make maximum positive impact on the shared waterbodies on the island of Ireland.”

The work being carried out under the SWELL project will involve a total of eight wastewater infrastructure upgrades, as well as catchment studies and ecosystem modelling, within the Carlingford Lough drainage basin (within Newry, Mourne & Down and Louth council areas) and the Lough Foyle drainage basin (comprising Derry City & Strabane and Donegal council areas). The improvements to the wastewater assets will help contribute to raising the current EU Water Framework Directive status of ‘moderate’ to ‘good’.

Match-funding for the project has been provided by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government in Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland.

Officially launching the SWELL project, Eoghan Murphy, TD, Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government in Ireland, stated: “Without safe and reliable water and wastewater infrastructure, social and economic development cannot happen. So I am pleased to be here today to officially launch the SWELL project which will play an important role in improving water quality in Carlingford Lough and Lough Foyle through cross-border partnership working.”

Denis McMahon, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, said: “I am very happy to jointly launch this worthwhile project. The €35m funding will facilitate important work with the Republic of Ireland to improve water quality in both the Foyle and Carlingford catchments. The project will leave a lasting legacy through improved wastewater treatment for our border communities and will develop a new environmental model to help decision and policy makers make the difference in improving water quality.”

The unique ecosystem model being developed through SWELL, will link various aspects of environmental modelling such as urban drainage, river, coastal and ecology, undertaken in the catchments of the respective loughs over the lifecycle of the project.

Through extensive investigations and use of innovative modelling techniques, the SWELL ecosystem model will be able to track the pathways of nutrients and contaminants of wastewater, industrial or agricultural sources to determine their impact on the receiving waters. This legacy model will assist the water utilities and regulatory bodies on both sides of the border by identifying best approaches to achieving further improvement of overall water quality in the future.

Announcing the funding Gina McIntyre, CEO of the SEUPB which is responsible for the management of the EU’s INTERREG VA Programme, said: “Nature does not respect geographical borders between regions, therefore cross-border cooperation is vital if we are to help protect our shared environment. This project represents a significant and long-term investment from the European Union in the water quality of the entire region. It is a testament to what can be achieved when two jurisdictions work together to help address a common problem.”

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Decision welcomed by An Bord Pleanála to grant planning permission for the Arklow Wastewater Treatment Plant

Project will result in significant improvements to water quality in Arklow Irish Water welcomes the decision today by An Bord Pleanála to approve planning permission for the Arklow Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Project will result in significant improvements to water quality in Arklow by ending the current practice of the discharge of raw sewage directly into the Avoca River. With over 15,000 people set to be connected to the new treatment plant on completion, this project is important in terms of protecting the environment, facilitating economic development and providing for a growing population.

The project will provide wastewater treatment through the development of a new 36,000 PE (population equivalent) wastewater treatment plant at the Old Wallboard Factory, North Quay, Ferrybank, Arklow. The project will also include the construction of two interceptor pipelines (along the North and South Quay) to bring untreated wastewater to the proposed treatment plant, as well as a marine outfall pipe to safely discharge the treated wastewater effluent into the Irish Sea.

Eliminating the discharge of raw sewage into the River Avoca is a top priority John Joyce, Infrastructure Programme Regional Lead with Irish Water, said “We welcome the decision by An Bord Pleanála to grant permission for the proposed Arklow Wastewater Treatment Plant. Since Irish Water took over the responsibility for water and wastewater services in January 2014, addressing the need to eliminate the discharge of raw sewage into the River Avoca has been a top priority. The proposed new WwTP will have huge benefits for the residents and businesses in Arklow and the tourists that visit the area as it will improve the water quality in the River Avoca and enable future economic growth in the area. This project is critical in safeguarding the wastewater system in Arklow for the future.

We have had extensive consultation with the community to date and are committed to working closely with all residents and stakeholders as we progress this significant infrastructure project with benefits for all. To date, raw sewage has been discharged directly into the Avoca. This project, on completion, will see significant improvements to water quality in Arklow, which is better for the environment and the local community. Over 15,000 people will be connected to the new scheme.”

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Veolia and Irish Water sign upgrade contracts for key water treatment sites Global leader in optimised resource management, Veolia, has been awarded two four year framework agreements that will deliver new water and wastewater infrastructure for Irish Water.

Designed to provide major process upgrades and new plant across numerous sites, the works form part of a significant investment plan to enhance the performance and meet the increased demand from population growth, mitigate flood risk and maintain legislative compliance.

To transform water services across Ireland, Irish Water has developed a seven year business plan with the overriding objective of delivering a quality service to customers using a €5.5bn investment plan to improve the water infrastructure. Initially starting with projects on 11 sites, Veolia’s work programmes will contribute to this plan by providing significant new process solutions.

Extra value for money will be gained by using a bespoke ‘Early Contractor Involvement Target Cost’ model over the next four years, with a potential extension to eight years. Under the contract Veolia Water Ireland Limited will be responsible for delivering key water and wastewater infrastructure changes starting in 2019 initially with the water treatment plants at Lough Forbes, Lough Kinale and Smear. Wastewater and sewerage sites receiving upgrades include Falcarragh, Ballinacarrow, Ballymote, Collooney and Raphoe. This will benefit around 73,000 people in the Midlands and North West of Ireland and provide water infrastructure that meets the current and future needs of the local communities.

The works cover the design, project management and interim operation of a wide range of solutions for water and wastewater treatment to meet the European Union water directives, and provide for future expansion at the sites. Included in the work is new and upgraded water and wastewater treatment plants, control, sludge beds, sewers, pump upgrades, aeration and clarifiers, sludge thickening, odour control, chemical analysis facilities and other ancillary plant. The program will also gain from the application of Veolia’s Actiflo and Hybrid Biological Activated Sludge process technologies.

Commenting on the new contract with Irish Water, Joe Higgins, Director at Veolia Ireland said “These strategic programs show how we continue working together with Irish Water to deliver essential infrastructure and meet the growing needs of communities in Ireland. The ECI contracting model will make implementation quicker and more effective, and by using our local capabilities, in conjunction with our global water experience, we will ensure that value for money is delivered for our customer’.

The service will be delivered by Veolia’s local engineering teams and is expected to begin in spring 2019. The contract follows the successful water treatment improvements delivered by Veolia for Irish Water in Ballymore Eustace, Kingscourt, Upper Liffey Valley and Portarlington and ongoing projects in Osberstown, Ringsend and Vartry.

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Progressing plans to build wastewater treatment plant in Moville Wastewater treatment plant will protect local beaches and coastline At present Moville has no municipal wastewater treatment facilities. Untreated wastewater from Moville is currently being discharged into the Bredagh River and Lough Foyle at five locations polluting the beaches and coastline. Moville is one of the areas the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identified as having no wastewater treatment. The Environmental Protection Agency has classified the Bredagh River as being ‘Seriously Polluted’.

Discharge of untreated wastewater threatens water quality and environment The current discharges of untreated wastewater are also polluting Lough Foyle, the beaches and coastline.

The discharge of untreated wastewater threatens water quality, pollutes the environment and detracts from the amenity value of the river and the coastal waters around Moville and environs. A new wastewater treatment plant and collection system is needed to end this practice.

Project is in design and pre-planning stage The project to deliver a new wastewater treatment plant and collection system is in the design and pre-planning stage. We are currently undertaking on-the-ground investigations and engaging with landowners and the local community. Mobilisation is underway for geotechnical site investigation works which will commence this week.

Once investigations and detailed design are complete we expect to submit a planning application by the end of 2019 to the planning authority for their consideration.

Detailed design and construction will take approximately four years Detailed design and construction will take approximately four years, and will be completed by 2022, subject to statutory approvals. The proposed project will end the discharge of untreated wastewater (the equivalent of 2,800 wheelie bins per day) into Lough Foyle and the Bredagh River.

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Plans to upgrade Lough Talt water treatment plant announced Works are now progressing to ensure a safe and secure supply of water Irish Water this afternoon met with community and public representatives to update them on plans to upgrade the water treatment plant at Lough Talt. Planning permission was granted for the essential works by Sligo County Council using the imperative reasons of overriding public interest (IROPI) process in May and works are now progressing to ensure a safe and secure supply of water will be delivered to the people on this scheme by the end of 2020.

The current Lough Talt water treatment plant does not provide adequate treatment for protection against cryptosporidium and needs to be upgraded. The water supply is included on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Remedial Action List (RAL), because the plant does not provide sufficient protection against cryptosporidium and trihalomethanes (THM).

Commenting on the upgrade works, Padraig Hanly, Irish Water’s Regional Lead for Asset Delivery said “Irish Water is committed to safeguarding the treated water supplied from the Lough Talt Regional Water Supply for the future and would like to apologise to customers for the inconvenience they are experiencing due to the current boil water notice. We are delighted that works on this essential upgrade can now begin and we are treating this upgrade as a matter of priority. We will work with our contractors to ensure the project is delivered on time and with due regard for all environmental and public health concerns. Public health is our number one priority and it is imperative that people adhere to the boil water notice which remains in place.

We would like to once again thank the public for their continued cooperation and patience while we work to deliver this much-needed upgrade.”

The project will be completed by the end of 2020 Irish Water will execute a works contract to complete the upgrade to the treatment plant in the coming weeks.

The project will be completed by the end of 2020.

The long term solution will be the provision of water from an alternative source and this option is also being investigated by Irish Water in parallel to implementing the upgrade to the existing Water Treatment Plant.

Irish Water wishes to remind customers supplied by the Lough Talt water supply that the boil water notice remains in place. The present Lough Talt water treatment process does not provide adequate protection against cryptosporidium and the risk of further detections remains high without a validated barrier against cryptosporidium. This can result in severe illness if the public do not boil their water before consumption.

Approximately 13,000 people are affected including the towns of Tubbercurry and Ballymote and a large rural hinterland including the villages of Annagh, Aclare, Bellaghy, Curry, Lavagh, Ballanacarrow, Carrowneden, Kilmacteige and Coolaney. The boil water notice also includes consumers supplied by the Ogham Group Water Scheme and the following areas in Co Mayo: Cloontia, Doocastle and Quarryfield.

The boil water notice is no longer in effect in the Bellaghy area following a connection which allowed this area to be supplied from the Charlestown public water supply. This connection removed 488 customers from the boil water notice in Bellaghy, Sandyhill, Cloonaughill, Cully, the southern 80 per cent part of Bunnacrannagh, Brackloonagh, Brogher, Lissard, and Curryfuel.

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Customers in Wicklow Town to benefit from a more reliable water supply

Follows completion of watermain replacement works Customers in the Main Street and Fitzwilliam Square areas of Wicklow Town will benefit from a more reliable water supply, following the completion of mains replacement works. Irish Water, working in partnership with Wicklow County Council, has completed the replacement of 350m of ageing and problematic cast iron watermains with high density polyethylene (plastic) pipes.

Replacing old water mains and service connections will reduce the instances of bursts and water outages to customers and local businesses in the area. Operational and maintenance costs will also be reduced as the network operation will require less maintenance.

Part of national Leakage Reduction Programme The work is part of our national Leakage Reduction Programme as part of which over €500 million is being invested to reduce the level of leakage across the country by fixing and replacing aging water mains. This will ensure a safe, reliable water supply which is vital for our health, our environment and our growing population and economy. The works were carried out by Ward and Burke Ltd, on our behalf.

Joe Carroll, Leakage Reduction Programme Regional Lead “We’d like to thank residents and businesses in Wicklow Town for their patience while we carried out these important works. The replacement of these aging water mains in Wicklow Town will improve security of supply for local residents and businesses alike. We are delighted to complete the works ahead of Wicklow County Council’s permanent road improvement works in the area. This will replace the current, temporary reinstatement in place following the works."

“Replacing the existing water mains with new modern pipes will provide a long-term solution to ensure a safe and secure water supply is delivered to customers. Irish Water is investing over €500 million to reduce the level of leakage across the country by fixing and replacing aging water mains in order to safeguard our water for our future.”

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Irish Water awards Cobh Town Networks Contract – the next step towards eliminating raw sewage in Cork Lower Harbour Wastewater will be collected in this sewer network and pumped via the estuary to Shanbally Wastewater Treatment Plant for safe discharge to Cork Lower Harbour Irish Water, in partnership with Cork County Council, is working to end the decades-long practice of discharging raw sewage directly into Cork Lower Harbour with an investment of 144 million in the Cork Lower Harbour Main Drainage Project. We have awarded the contract for the design and construction of the Cobh Town networks contract to a Farrans Construction and Sorensen Civil Engineering Limited Joint Venture. When works on this contract are completed in 2021, the raw sewage from Cobh Town will be treated, completing the connection of 20,000 homes and businesses to the Cork Lower Harbour scheme, protecting the environment, facilitating economic development and providing for a growing population.

Currently untreated wastewater is discharged through 19 outfall pipes Wastewater from Cobh Town’s homes and businesses is collected in the existing sewer network. It then discharges untreated through 19 outfall pipes directly into Cork Harbour. We are ending this practice by delivering the Cobh Networks Contract as part of the Cork Lower Harbour Main Drainage Project. The Cobh Network Contract will collect that wastewater by building approximately 7km of sewer mains and 5 new pumping stations. The wastewater will be transferred for treatment via the Cobh to Monkstown Estuary Crossing to Monkstown pumping station, from where it will be pumped to Shanbally Wastewater Treatment Plant for treatment before its safe discharge to the harbour. The works are expected to take approximately two years to complete.

Déaglán Healy, Project manager Cork Lower Harbour Main Drainage Project “When we started construction of this project in 2015, the equivalent of 40,000 wheelie bins of raw sewage was discharging into the Harbour every day. We halved that through the construction of the Shanbally Wastewater Treatment Plant and connection of Crosshaven, Carrigaline and Shanbally. We have completed all the pipelines on the south side of the harbour. We connected Ringaskiddy Village to the treatment plant in October 2018 and we will start treating the wastewater from Passage West, Glenbrook and Monkstown later this month. At this stage the equivalent of 30,000 wheelie bins of sewage will be treated daily and discharge safely to the harbour. We are now moving to the North side of the harbour with the award of the Cobh Networks Contract, another significant milestone towards ending the discharge of raw sewage into the Lower Harbour area. Having adequate wastewater treatment infrastructure is essential to safeguard the environment and to facilitate housing and commercial development and we are committed to working with the local community in Cobh to minimise the impact of these works. I would encourage Cobh residents and businesses to contact the project team and register for regular project updates at corklowerharbour@water.ie to help us keep you informed as we work together to clean up our harbour.”

Olaf Sorensen, Chairman of Sorensen Civil Engineering Limited “We are delighted to be back working in Cobh and partnering with Farrans Construction to deliver this important infrastructure for Irish Water and for Cobh”. Farrans Construction bring a vast international utility experience to the partnership.

Kevin Corley, Managing Director of Farrans Construction “We will work closely with Sorensen, Irish Water and the communities in Cobh to deliver these works with the minimum of disruption”.

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Wastewater treatment plant in Athenry upgraded to protect public health and the local environment

Upgraded plant is officially opened by Minister Murphy Irish Water, working in partnership with Galway County Council, has completed an upgrade to the wastewater treatment plant in Athenry which will protect public health and the local environment, as well as acting as an enabler of future economic growth.

Irish Water has invested €5 million in the upgrade, which included the construction of a new wastewater system. The upgraded plant will ensure compliance with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive requirements and, in doing so, protect the Clarin River.

The upgraded plant was officially opened by Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy TD; Councillor Jimmy Mc Clearn, Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council; and Eamon Gallen, Managing Director of Irish Water on Monday 8 July.

Speaking at today’s opening Minister Murphy stated “The Government, working in partnership with Irish Water and the local authorities, is committed to leading delivery of a new era in investment in our national water and wastewater infrastructure assets. Projects like this in Athenry are essential to protect the health of our families, the environment, to enable economic development in our local communities, and to safeguard Ireland’s water” Facilitate future population growth and commercial development in Athenry Prior to the upgrade works, the plant was operating beyond its capacity. The upgraded wastewater treatment plant can now cater for a population equivalent of 9,500 and will be able to facilitate future population growth and commercial development in Athenry.

Attending the event in Athenry, Eamon Gallen, Managing Director of Irish Water, added “The size and scale of the challenges facing Irish Water are not to be underestimated but through the expertise of Irish Water, the local authorities, our contractors and their design teams we are investing and upgrading our water and wastewater infrastructure to bring it in line with international standards.”

Councillor Jimmy Mc Clearn, Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council stated “This investment is needed to provide Athenry with the infrastructure to support the building of houses, schools, to attract new industry and to allow the companies we have to expand and grow. As our economy grows, so does the requirement for critical national infrastructure. It’s important in supporting future population growth, housing developments, new businesses and to ensure that Galway maintains its attractiveness as a location for foreign direct investment.”

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New wastewater treatment plant in Castlemaine Existing wastewater infrastructure in Castlemaine is overloaded and outdated Irish Water is commencing work on a new wastewater treatment plant and network improvements in Castlemaine, Co. Kerry.

Existing wastewater infrastructure in Castlemaine is overloaded and outdated.

This project will provide a new wastewater treatment plant, as well as the additional associated infrastructure required to connect the new plant into the existing wastewater network in the village.

Irish Water will invest over €6.6 million in this project.

On completion, the new infrastructure will improve wastewater treatment quality and capacity. Once operational, the new plant will ensure compliance with wastewater discharge regulations.

“This project will enhance the local environment of Castlemaine and provide a platform for social and economic development into the future," said Joseph Kennedy, Regional Infrastructure Lead with Irish Water.

“We look forward to working with the local community to deliver this project in conjunction with our partners, Kerry County Council and Glan Agua. Wastewater treatment is currently by means of septic tank system in Castlemaine and this process is no longer capable of providing treatment appropriate for this location."

Further Information: Castlemaine is currently served by overloaded and outdated wastewater treatment infrastructure and therefore a new wastewater treatment plant and some network improvements are required.

What does the project involve?

• Building a new wastewater treatment plant at Castlemaine. The plant has been designed to allow further expansion at a later date if required • Building a new pumping station with storm water storage.

• Replacing over 660 metres of sewer • Building a new pumping station including provision of storm water storage at the outfall to the River Maine • Glan Agua has been awarded the contract to deliver the project, and work will commence in the coming weeks.

What are the benefits of this project?

• Once complete, the new wastewater treatment plant and upgraded sewer network will deliver several benefits, including: • Protection of the environment, specifically the water quality in the River Maine and Castlemaine Harbour • Legal compliance, as the quality of treated effluent will comply with regulatory requirements and Castlemaine’s wastewater discharge authorisation • Capacity for future growth, as the plant will provide wastewater treatment for future growth in Castlemaine and can be expanded further in future if required.

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Minister Murphy approves €84m in funding for 25 local authority sites to support the delivery of approximately 1,770 affordable homes nationally under the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF) • 25 projects given the green light in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Kilkenny, Limerick, Waterford, Wicklow and Wexford.

• €84 million for strategic infrastructure to support the delivery of affordable homes • 1,770 affordable homes to be delivered as a result of this 2nd tranche of funding • Approximately 6,200 affordable homes in total to be delivered via the Serviced Sites Fund Delivering on commitments made in the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan, Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Eoghan Murphy T.D., today (6 August 2019) announced funding approval for 25 infrastructure projects across 13 local authority areas.

This significant funding commitment of €84 million will support the delivery of 1,770 affordable homes for purchase.

This announcement, confirming the 2nd round of approvals and funding under the Serviced Sites Fund, means that, to date, funding support has been allocated to enable delivery of almost 3,200 affordable homes for purchase under the scheme.

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Minister Murphy said; “We’ve seen recently that house prices have been cooling down, even falling in some parts of the country as supply increases. But for too many people home ownership still remains out of reach.

Unless the government steps in to bridge the gap, young couples and workers may not be able to afford to buy their own home in our cities and large towns. That’s why we are using local authority land to build more affordable homes for young workers and couples, and that’s why these approvals announced today are so important. The market will not fix our housing problems alone, the government must lead on providing more affordable homes.”

The Serviced Sites Fund, which has a total of €310 million available support local authorities out to 2021, was established to provide key facilitating infrastructure, on public lands, to support the delivery of affordable homes to purchase or rent. The projects announced today will also service sites providing infrastructure that has the potential to support the development of over 1,100 social housing homes where local authorities are bringing forward these sites forward as part of mixed tenure developments.

In making this announcement, Minister Murphy commended local authorities for their engagement under this 2nd Call for Proposals, stating the process had been “impressive both in terms of the ambition and scope of proposals submitted, and in terms of local authorities’ willingness to put their own resources to work to play their part in delivering affordable homes”.

The Minister went on to say that “Together with other complementary and targeted affordability measures under Rebuilding Ireland, the delivery of these affordable homes will have a really positive impact on the availability of affordable housing. This is about providing homes for all: creating new and attractive communities to live in, where the demand is greatest, and delivering at affordable prices and rents.”

The homes that will be delivered via this funding support, will be made available for affordable purchase under the provisions of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009 which the Minister enacted in 2018, the operational provisions of which are currently being developed. Alternatively, SSF funding is also being made available to support innovative delivery of homes for rent under a ‘Cost Rental’ model which it is anticipated will deliver rental options at rates significantly below market levels.

The Minister closed in saying “Housing, and in particular affordable housing, is one of the critical challenges facing our country. That is why I sought and achieved a trebling of the Serviced Sites Fund in last year’s Budget, to provide €310 million to get local authority sites up and running to deliver at least 6,200 affordable homes, working towards a programme of 10,000, where they are most needed. My Department will now work with local authorities to develop these proposals and bring the plans to fruition.”

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Minister Murphy announces allocation of funding of over €25 Million Housing Investment for Local Authority Homes llocation of funding for 2019 which will see the upgrading of the energy efficiency of Local Authority homes at a cost of €25m.

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Minister for Housing, Planning & Local Government, Eoghan Murphy has announced the allocation of over €25 million in funding for the upgrading of the energy efficiency of local authority homes this year.

This is the latest funding allocation under the programme for energy retrofitting social homes, which has already seen over 68,000 homes retrofitted to date through a total exchequer spend of over €128m.

The programme provides funding of up to €22,800 per property for fabric upgrade works to dwellings with solid/hollow block wall construction and includes the provision of heating upgrades such as heat pumps and solar panels. As well as improving the energy efficiency of Ireland’s social housing stock, the programme also brings about reductions in people’s heating bills and helps tackle fuel poverty. As part of the EU Operational Programme 2014-2020, the programme attracts co-funding under the European Regional Development Fund.

Minister Murphy said “I’m delighted to be able to continue the programme of energy retrofitting of social homes. Today’s announcement is particularly timely, given the recent announcement by Government of our plan to tackle climate disruption. A principle objective of our social housing retrofitting programme is to contribute to Ireland’s commitments in relation to carbon emissions reductions and energy reduction targets.

The energy retrofitting of buildings in the private and public sector hold the greatest potential for energy savings. This funding will see improvements in the thermal efficiency of homes through improved attic and wall insulation, along with the addition of heating upgrades such as heat pumps and solar panels, resulting in improved comfort levels all around. As a result of this €25 million investment for energy retrofitting works to social houses, a further tranche of local authority tenants will experience warmer homes and reduced fuel bills this winter.

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