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• New N4 Road Significant Milestone for Sligo and the North West • New ‘Fairytale’ Playground Opened At Mallow Castle

Here’s some good news... In the Republic of Ireland, ALL PLASTIC packaging waste including Soft Plastics can now be placed in your Household Recycling Bin. Soft plastics examples include: • Rice bags • pasta bags • cereal bags • dishwasher tablet bags, wrapping from packets of toilet tissue and kitchen paper and bubblewrap.

All items must be CLEAN, DRY and LOOSE as they are placed in the bin. For a full list of soft plastics and answers to your waste related questions, visit: mywaste.ie

CONTENTS Vol 40 No. 3

FEATURES

Published by:

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ISSN NO. 1393-0394 LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS is available FREE OF CHARGE and ON LINE 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.

NEW N4 ROAD SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE FOR SLIGO AND THE NORTH WEST

FIREBIRD REBRANDS TO REFLECT FOCUS ON INNOVATION & SUSTAINABILITY

RECYCLING CHANGES ANNOUNCED IN SEPTEMBER AS SOFT PLASTIC WASTE, THAT IS CLEAN, DRY AND LOOSE, CAN NOW BE PLACED IN IRISH HOUSEHOLD RECYCLING BINS. (MY WASTE) 11 THE INNOVATION IN POLITICS AWARDS 2021: 5 IRISH PROJECTS COMPETE WITH ENTRIES FROM 25 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES FOR INNOVATION PRIZES (DCU) 13 NEW ‘FAIRYTALE’ PLAYGROUND OPENED AT MALLOW CASTLE

GRANT EMBRACES RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGY TO HEAT IRISH PROPERTIES

DODDER GREENWAY PROJECT (SDCC)

REGULARS DEPARTMENT BRIEFS

IRISH WATER UPDATES

PRODUCT INFO

CLASSFIEDS

NATIONWIDE DATA COLLECTION

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New N4 Road Significant Milestone for Sligo and the North West

n Taoiseach Micheál Martin, T.D. officially opened the new N4 Collooney to Castlebaldwin Roads Project in County Sligo on October 18th. This is one of the first key National Roads Projects to be delivered under Project Ireland 2040ʼs Regional Connectivity objective.

The new €140 million, 15km Roads Project will significantly improve safety for communities and road users; reduce journey times and improve journey time reliability, between Dublin and Sligo, and make Sligo and the North West more accessible for investment and tourism. It opened to traffic in August 2021.

Pictured are Cllr Paul Taylor, Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, T.D., Martin Lydon, CE, Sligo County Council and Frank Feighan TD, Cormac OʼRourke, Chairperson, Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, T.D. said “This project is about enhancing peopleʼs quality of life. It will significantly improve road safety for local communities and for everyone travelling between Sligo and Dublin. The new road will also be a catalyst for sustainable regional growth and development, encouraging further investment and employment opportunities in Sligo and the North West. It will enhance the quality of life of this community, improving accessibility and making this an even more attractive a destination for investment and a place to work and live.” Welcoming the project Cllr. Paul Taylor, Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council said “This is an important project for everybody in Co. Sligo. Removing cars and trucks from the old N4 and designating it a Local Road with a new cycleway makes local communities safer and enables people to choose walking or cycling for short local journeys. It also has the potential to be a game changer by helping to boost the local economy, bring jobs to the region and make Sligo a better and safer place to live, travel, and work in.”

James Irwin Construction Limited Pleased to be associated with the N4 Collooney to Castlebaldwin Dual Carriageway.

Formwork, Steelfixing and Concrete Placing Sub-contractor on the bridges on the development of the N4 Collooney to Castlebaldwin Road. Unit 9 Stonecourt, Roscommon Town Co. Roscommon Tel: 0906 665 682 Email: info@jic.ie Web: www.jicireland.com

N4 Collooney to Castlebaldwin Project Facts

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One of the first new National Roads Project under Project Ireland 2040ʼs Regional Connectivity objective

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Replaces the old road where 30 people died over three decades

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Predicted to result in 27 fewer fatalities and 87 fewer serious injuries by 2051

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15km of new National Primary Road comprising 1km single carriageway from the Curlews Bypass to a new roundabout at Castlebaldwin, followed by just under 14km of dual carriageway to Collooney

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3.4km of greenway (cycling route)

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Potential to develop an 11km segregated cycling route alongside the old N4

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Project value €140 million

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Construction started in 2019 and took just 2.5 years to complete.

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Hildegarde Naughton, T.D. said the opening of the N4 is not only an important milestone for Sligo, the communities and businesses that it serves; so too is it critical from a road safety perspective. Tragically, in the past three decades we have lost 30 lives on the old N4; I am confident that the 15km of new National Primary Road will make it a safer place for commutes to work and school, or for travel to visit friends and family in the decades ahead. While it is impossible to put a price on any one life saved on our roads, Governmentʼs investment of €140 million on this vital piece of infrastructure will result in 27 fewer fatalities and 87 fewer serious injuries by 2051, based on current predictions.”

Cormac OʼRourke, Chairman of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) said “A project like the N4 Collooney to Castlebaldwin is prime example of the upgrade needed to the national roads network to deliver on TIIʼs remit to enhance safety and improve efficiency under the Governmentʼs Project Ireland 2040 plan. TII continues to deliver, along with our Local Authority partners, the needed road safety improvements throughout the historic national roads network, along with maintaining the existing network. This national and local collaboration formally establishes the commitment to deliver on all the National Road elements contained within Project Ireland 2040.”

N4 Roads Project / 2 Chief Executive of Sligo County Council, Martin Lydon said “Sligo is a designated Regional Growth Centre in the Governmentʼs Project Ireland 2040 plan. Enhancing and upgrading accessibility between urban centres and their regions, and ensuring compact growth is at the core of Project Ireland 2040. By improving journey time reliability between Dublin and Sligo, the new section of the N4 will position Sligo as being more attractive for economic development and will encourage future investment, job creation and tourism.”

The project was delivered by Sligo County Council’s TII National Roads Project Office, fully supported by Transport Infrastructure Ireland. The Employers Representative was Barry Transportation, and the contractor was Roadbridge, with Fehily Timoney, Byrne Looby, and Clandillon as Contractor’s Designers.

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Road users traveling on the main Dublin to Sligo road now automatically enter the new dual carriageway at Castlebaldwin. The new road then continues for 13.8km, to Collooney, from where it joins the existing dual carriageway at the N4/N17 roundabout, 12km from Sligo. The project includes just under 1km of National Road single carriageway. There are 12 bridges in the new road scheme, including four over bridges, six under bridges, and two river bridges.

Sligo Facts •

Identified as a Regional Growth Centre in Project Ireland 2040

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Project Ireland 2040 was launched in Sligo – in 2018

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65,535 population (2016 census)

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37% of population under 30

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10,000+ students attend Sligoʼs 3rd level college and university

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500,000+ tourists (2019)

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Tourists stayed 4,630 nights (2019)

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€150m expected in tourism by 2023

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1 Gigabit broadband in Sligo City

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232 micro businesses on the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Client List

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67km to Enniskillen

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54km to Ireland West Airport

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207km from Dublin

Firebird Rebrands to Reflect Focus on Innovation & Sustainability Firebird, Irelandʼs market leading designer and manufacturer of commercial and domestic boilers, has rebranded to reflect its business strategy and ambition for growth. To mark over 40 years in business, Firebirdʼs rebrand is in recognition of how the business has grown through innovation while in parallel, it ambitiously leads the charge, within its industry, on renewable and sustainable energy.

Firebird, Irelandʼs market leading designer and manufacturer of commercial and domestic boilers, has rebranded to reflect its business strategy and ambition for growth. General Manager Mark Doyle (left) and Company Director Colm Murphy (right) and their Firebird team recently celebrated the launch of the rebrand at its site in Ballyvourney.

This is a new chapter for Firebird which over the last four decades has grown from humble beginnings in an Ghaeltacht, Cork to become a global leader in designing and manufacturing high performance solutions for the heating market. Renowned for its innovative and bespoke solutions and with a highly experienced team, Firebird has expanded its reach with manufacturing sites not only in County Cork but also in Northern Ireland and in England and supplies boilers to locations such as New Zealand, the Middle East, USA, Falkland Islands and many countries across Europe. With innovation at its core and sustainability its driving force, the rebrand reflects the brand that Firebird is today while symbolising its dynamic future and business growth ambitions.

The rebrand communicated through a progressive new logo and website, is not only an important way in which to align the brand visually across its sites in Ireland, Northern Ireland and England but it also demonstrates Firebirdʼs vision for the future. One of Firebirdʼs key differentiators is how it has the most technologically advanced and energy efficient heating options on the market. It has also pushed the boundaries on renewable energy to become the only manufacturer of boilers in Europe with Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions that are 50% lower than the European limit. Irelandʼs market leading designer and manufacturer of commercial and Renowned for its innovative designs Firebird, domestic boilers, has rebranded to reflect its business strategy and ambition for and a solutions-focused approach, growth. The Firebird sales team recently celebrated the launch of the rebrand at Firebirdʼs market share has grown its site in Ballyvourney. exponentially in recent years. A €1 million contract to supply boilers to the Greek market secured earlier this year is one such example of how Firebird is internationally regarded for expertise.

Commenting on Firebirdʼs rebrand, Mark Doyle, General Manager of Firebird, said, “Through this rebrand, weʼre setting down a marker of what Firebird as a business is now and where weʼre going. Firebirdʼs success has been built on our flexibility to adapt to the needs of our customers and the world we live in. We are continuing to innovate and drive more sustainable heating solutions that benefit not only our customers but our environment. Our responsibility to our customers and environment are the key drivers behind everything we do.

Firebird, market leading designer and manufacturer of commercial and domestic boilers, are designers of Irelandʼs first HVO ready oil boiler. Pictured here are the General Manager, Mark Doyle (left) and Company Director, Colm Murphy (right), showcasing how clean HVO is as an alternative fuel source.

Now, is the ideal time to launch a modern and progressive rebrand that better represents our DNA. Our aim was to create a brand and a new logo that proudly reflects our best qualities and values which include world class experience and expertise, uncompromising quality, constant innovation and sustainability.”

Firebirdʼs new logo is a strong representation of the core values of the business. The green in the logo represents sustainability, the silver represents Firebirdʼs expertise and the solid quality of the products it offers and the timeless shade of grey stands for its innovative approach to creating solutions that satisfy the ever changing needs of its customers. The new branding and tagline ʻThe Future of Home Heatingʼ coincide with the launch of the Firebirdʼs new website, which is universal for all three regions. Designed specifically for the installer and end user in mind, the new website boasts a host of features that will make the process from enquiry to installation, seamless.

More information and a first chance to look at the new website visit www.firebird.ie.

Recycling Changes announced in September as Soft Plastic Waste, that is clean, dry and loose, can now be placed in Irish Household Recycling Bins. All plastic packaging waste - including soft plastic - can now be placed in Irish household recycling bins as long as it is clean, dry and loose. Making the announcement, Minister of State with special responsibility for Communications and Circular Economy, Ossian Smyth TD said soft plastic can be placed in the household recycling bin along with “rigid” plastic. “This is a significant and very positive development in Irish recycling and waste management. Soft plastics have been added to the household recycling list due to advancements in technology at Irish recycling facilities. This is welcome news as we work to reach EU recycling targets. Currently in Ireland we recycle less than a third of all plastic packaging waste. We have committed to increasing our plastic packaging recycling figure to 50% by 2025 and 55% by 2030. Todayʼs announcement is a significant step towards achieving these targets,” added Minister Smyth. Todayʼs development is also part of the effort to fulfil commitments in relation to plastic packaging recycling as outlined in the Governmentʼs Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy. Pauline McDonogh, Spokesperson for MyWaste - Irelandʼs official website for guidance on managing waste, said that the addition of soft plastic to the Irish household recycling bin makes waste segregation much more straight forward for the householder. “Householders can now place all plastic packaging waste, including soft plastic, into the recycling bin once it is clean, dry and loose. "Advancements have been made to the technology that segregates the different material types in recycling facilities. The recyclable plastic is sent to specialised, polymer-specific recycling facilities. If it cannot currently be recycled, it will be sent as Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) to replace fossil fuels at cement kilns.” All permitted waste collection companies are now accepting soft plastic packaging waste that is placed clean, dry and loose into the recycling bin. Hugh Coughlan, Regional Waste Co-ordinator with Eastern Midlands Regional Waste Management Office added – “Local authorities are at the forefront of environmental education and information and quite often are the first port of call for citizens seeking clarity about waste management. Simplifying the household waste presentation for recycling will hopefully make the dissemination of information easier and will ultimately lead to higher presentation rates and an improvement in Ireland reaching its ambitious recycling targets”.

` For a detailed list of the materials that are now accepted in the household recycling bin see mywaste.ie

For information on Regional and national waste management campaigns please contact your Regional Waste Management Office: Declan Breen Eastern Midlands declanbreen@dublincity.ie

Sinead Ni Mhainnin Connacht Ulster snimhainnin@mayococo.ie

Pauline McDonogh Southern pauline.mcdonogh@srwmo.ie

The Innovation in Politics Awards 2021: 5 Irish projects compete with entries from 25 European countries for innovation prizes Five local and national projects from Ireland have reached the final of this yearʼs prestigious Innovation in Politics awards. The projects from SHE – See Her Elected, Mayo County Council, Meath County Council, and Longford County Council are among 90 European entries. With 25 European countries represented, Irelandʼs entries secured finalist positions in the community, democracy, economy, and quality of life categories. The Innovation in Politics Awards recognise courageous and creative political projects in Europe. This year, 413 projects were submitted by politicians from across Europe, with the finalists chosen by a jury of 1,032 European citizens. “It is a huge achievement to have five finalists in these Europe-wide awards,” said Professor Deiric Ó Broin, Professor of Public Policy Practice in the School of Law and Government in Dublin City University. DCU is the Irish partner of the Innovation in Politics Institute, which has offices in Vienna and Berlin, and representatives in countries across Europe. “The Irish finalists are an example of the innovation that is driving local and national politics. Improving female representation in politics, regenerating local communities and economies, making businesses more responsive to older people – these are responses tailored to specific challenges and opportunities in Ireland and will impact positively on society at every level.” The winners of the awards will be announced in events across Europe taking place from December 2021 until February 2022. “Those in politics who are creative and courageous are rewarded by their citizens at home, but also at the Innovation in Politics Awards, so that others across Europe can draw inspiration from their work,” said Edward Strasser, CEO and co-founder of the Innovation in Politics Institute. The five Irish finalists in the Innovation in Politics Awards are: Community: Mayo County Council collaborated with local stakeholders in Night Skies Mayo, a community-driven project protecting County Mayoʼs dark skies, benefitting local ecology and boosting tourism. Mayo International Dark Sky Park involved partnerships between local stakeholders to reduce environmental light pollution and promote Mayo as a haven for innovations in dark sky tourism. https://innovationinpolitics.eu/showroom/project/protecting-the-night-skies-of-county-mayo/ Democracy: SHE - See Her Elected is a community-led initiative that supports women into politics in rural areas of Ireland, strengthening local and national democracy by increasing the diversity of political participation. SHE is targeted at increasing the numbers of women in local politics in the rural Northwest-Midlands Region of Ireland, where anything from 78% to 95% of the elected local authority councillors are men. SHE is fully funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage under the stewardship of Minister Peter Burke TD. https://innovationinpolitics.eu/showroom/project/she-see-her-elected/ Economy: Meath County Council is the lead local authority in the Age Friendly Business Recognition Programme, under the auspices of Age Friendly Ireland. The programme provides training and support for businesses to help them make their services age friendly and involved older people in advising business about changes they would like to see https://innovationinpolitics.eu/showroom/project/age-friendly-business-recognition-programme/ Economy: Longford County Council was the first council in Ireland to develop a Rural Working Hub Strategy that suited the needs of the local community. State-of-the-art Rural Working Hubs in three towns facilitate remote working, provide a base for entrepreneurs and start-ups, contribute towards a low-carbon future, help redevelop a digital strategy in and boost regeneration of Longford's towns and villages. https://innovationinpolitics.eu/showroom/project/establishing-rural-working-hubs/ Quality of Life: Mayo County Council is the lead authority on the Vacant Homes initiative. The Vacant Homes web portal allows people to log vacant homes in their area and, once registered, an alert is sent to the relevant local authority vacant-home officer. The aim is to help create new homes from existing vacant dwellings, rejuvenating areas in decline and sustaining community services such as schools and shops. https://innovationinpolitics.eu/showroom/project/vacant-homes/

#PoliticsAwards21 #InnovationInPolitics #Democracy

HLCE Limited, Consulting Engineers Tellengana, Blackrock Road , Cork Tel: +353 21 4936100, Email Cork@horganlynch.ie Horganlynch are delighted to have been the Civil/Structural Design Engineers working with the Brady Shipman Martin lead design & project management team, Vision Contracting & Cork County Council for the delivery of the Mallow Castle Park & Playground Development.

Daniel Noonan Archaeological Consultancy was delighted to have been part of the Design Team, led by Brady Shipman Martin Landscape Architects, and appointed by Cork County Council, to develop and bring to fruition the Mallow Castle Playground.

Daniel Noonan Archaeological Consultancy Ringwood House, Summerfield Youghal, Co. Cork 024-25922 info@dnac.ie

New ‘Fairytale’ Playground Opened At Mallow Castle

ork Council Councilʼs ambitious plans for the future of Mallow have taken a major step forward with the opening of the eagerly anticipated childrenʼs playground at Mallow Castle Park. The new facility forms part of the first phase of the redevelopment of Mallow Castle Grounds.

This project was part funded by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh OʼBrien, as part of the Urban Regeneration Development Fund (URDF). As a key activator of Project Ireland 2040 the Governmentʼs National Planning Framework and National Development Plan the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund is driving regeneration and rejuvenation of strategic and underutilised areas within Irelandʼs five cities, key regional drivers and other large towns. The URDF provides planning authorities with the opportunity to coordinate their planned regeneration and rejuvenation of our large towns and cities with a stream of significant tailored Exchequer capital investment which will ensure that the right project is happening in the right place at the right time. Universal access and inclusive play principles underpinned the design which centres around a bespoke castletype structure with towers, slides, rope walks, climbing frames and a climbing wall. The facility also features sensory rich activities such as sand/water play and tree canopy exploration. The designers and contractors incorporated best practice accessible design features within the sensitive historical landscape environment of Mallow Castle Park, retaining and protecting the natural and built heritage of the site. The most appropriate surfacing suitable for wheelchairs and buggies was selected, using compacted gravel and bound rubber mulch surfacing which allows access to the play equipment and includes ramps to the sandpit area. Wide routes facilitate free unconstrained movement throughout with flush transitions allowing people using mobility aids to move freely. In addition, the equipment and features are placed at varying heights to accommodate children who have different reach ranges. The fully accessible play equipment includes see-saws with supporting backrests and handles; a range of swings encompassing nest swings, junior backrest and supporting chair swings; as well as an accessible roundabout, trampoline, play panels and hideouts. There are also quiet spaces within the playground and gardens. Accessible pathways have been constructed from the entrance through the former walled gardens to the grounds of Mallow Castle while a new entrance for both pedestrians and vehicles has been created at the northern boundary with Castlepark. A car park with space for 28 cars has also been built. Disabled and parent/child parking is available within 100m of the playground. Accessible picnic benches and seating areas have also been provided.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Gillian Coughlan said the park will captivate childrenʼs imagination with its fairytale atmosphere, “It is a really impressive amenity and offers a more stimulating and challenging environment for children that is unique to Mallow and the North Cork region. The main structure itself is quite medieval looking which is a nod to its setting in Mallow Castle. I would like to commend all involved in this project which will keep children, from near and far, far away entertained for many years.” Further works also funded as part of the Urban Regeneration Development Fund (URDF) have recently commenced in Tip O’Neill Park. This will complement and support the existing tourism offering at Doneraile Park and Anne’s Grove House and Gardens, both of which are in proximity to Mallow. The development was designed and overseen by Brady Shipman Martin. The construction works were completed by Vision Contracting Ltd. A six-week pilot pedestrianisation of the main street of Mallow has also been completed. The project saw Thomas Davis Street in the town closed to traffic from 2.00pm to 7.00pm each Saturday afternoon from Saturday 25th of September until the 30th of October. Visitors and shoppers enjoyed live music and on-street performances each afternoon. The initiative which was cofunded by Cork County Council and the National Transport Authority under the New Rural Active Travel Investment Programme, formed part of Cork County Councilʼs Project ACT (Activating County Towns) to support local businesses, retailers and the local hospitality sector. As part of the pilot project, Cork County Council, Councillors and Mallow Chamber of Commerce assessed the role-out of the pedestrianisation, its impact on the town of Mallow, businesses, traffic flow and public feedback. Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey, added, “The new playground forms part of an overall plan to develop Mallow Castle Park as a key tourism destination for North Cork. It’s the first key project in the redevelopment of the existing gardens and historic landscape at Mallow Castle, as well as the main Mallow Town Park, the Spa House and Tip O’Neill Park, as high-quality public amenities and year-round visitor attractions. These amenities will complement and support the existing tourism offerings at nearby Doneraile Park and Anneʼs Grove House and Gardens.”

Sanity System What does it do? The Sanity System is an air and surface sanitisation system effective on virtually any surface including fabrics. The technology eliminates 99.9% of Covid-19, MRSA and E. coli, the process destroying the virus in its entirety. In addition, it deodorises, repels insects and cleanses the environment of bacteria, pollen, fungus and moulds – the main causes of allergic reactions. It has been independently tested and is approved by the Department of Agriculture and the HSE. How does it work? The system uses Ozone to sanitise the environment in which it is used. Ozone is a natural gas with a very high oxidant power, leaving no chemical trace. Ozone kills viruses by diffusing the protein through the envelope into the nucleic acid nucleus, thereby rupturing the viral RNA. Higher concentrations of ozone destroy the capsid or outer protein shell through oxidation. Once the lipid layer of the virus is ruptured, the nucleus of DNA or RNA cannot survive. The system is safe, 100% eco-friendly, and energyefficient. Usage The process is simple. Place the Sanity System in the room you require sanitised or deodorised and leave the room with the door and window closed for the recommended duration depending on the room size. Unlike other ozone systems, The Sanity System reconverts the Ozone to O2 as part of the completion process, ensuring the space is safe for use immediately after the required time has elapsed with no additional wait time. Currently in use in: Buildings: Classrooms, nursing homes, changing rooms, canteens, toilets, science labs, reception areas, gymnasiums, waiting areas, hotels, libraries etc… Vehicles: Ambulances, Fire Departments, Rapid Response Vehicles, Rescue Helicopters, School and Public Buses, Cars & Vans etc…

Energy Management Digren Limited is an energy management consultancy providing tailored energy management services to all business sectors and local authorities. Our services include; Energy Profile Analysis, Energy Procurement, Energy Audits, Voltage Optimisation & Power Factor Correction as well as Bill Validation and more. Energy Assessment We carry out assessments and audits to establish a baseline on current energy usage, which identifies where energy is being wasted. Measure & Monitor By focusing on ʻno costʼ reductions such as where energy is being wasted, and assessing all other energy reduction opportunities, we create a site-specific energy plan for implementing these measures over an agreed period of time. We also implement a monitoring system to suit the site. Implement & Monitor Through our Digren Energy Bureau (DEB) we engage with our clients and assist in the implementation of the energy plan to ensure its success. Energy Management Plan Every business needs an energy management plan specific to their needs. An EMP should be set out over three years with clear targets. Risk Management We actively source the most competitive rates on the market best suited to our clientʼs usage while providing market intelligence and trading options to minimise risk and maximise savings. We also issue monthly reports and bill reconciliation to allow customers to stay on top of their energy costs.

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Grant embraces renewable technology to heat Irish properties Irelandʼs leading heating appliance manufacturer Grant, is preparing for heating requirements of the future by ensuring all its heating technologies can be renewable. Following the latest company announcement that the award-winning Grant Vortex boiler range is now able to run using 100% HVO, this means that the manufacturer has largely transformed into a fully renewable heating company. This is reflected through Grantʼs diverse product range which includes, ranges of biofuel ready condensing boilers, condensing wood pellet boilers, solar thermal panels, underfloor heating, hot water cylinders, aluminium radiators, and air to water air source heat pumps.

Pictured: Grant Vortex Module 26kW

“As a company we remain committed to helping those working on new build and upgrade projects throughout Ireland to reduce their carbon footprint and prepare their properties for the future. The Grant R&D team is dedicated to continuing its research of alternative synthetic liquid fuels and biofuels and welcomes any potential partnerships which could further the development of innovative renewable heating technologies. That may include liquid fuel, biomass, solar thermal, refrigerant, combustion, condensing and hybrid technology,” said Grant founder, Stephen Grant. Grant offers an innovative range of technologies that can be used as the main heat source in Irish properties of all shapes and sizes, including the biofuel compatible Grant Vortex condensing boiler and the A+++ Aerona3 R32 air to water air source heat pump ranges. Grantʼs A+++ Aerona3 R32 air to water air source heat pump is a clean and more environmentally friendly product as it can lower a propertyʼs overall carbon footprint. Available in four outputs, the Grant Aerona3 R32 13kW and 17kW models have also been recognised by Quiet Mark for their quiet operation. A Grant Vortex boiler provides a cost-effective option for those upgrading their boiler and is available in 63 diverse types with outputs from 12 – 70kW. The Grant Vortex boiler has been developed in a series of models including utility, external, boiler house and wall hung to ensure there is a product model to suit the heating requirements of both smaller and larger scale properties. Grantʼs recent R&D breakthrough has ensured the complete Vortex range is ready for future heating needs and requirements, as the technologies can now efficiently run using renewable HVO, through making a slight modification to the boiler. It is now also possible to adapt older Grant condensing boilers to HVO by having a new biofuel burner, matched with the specific boiler model, installed by a service engineer as part of an annual service. Those working on new build or heating upgrade projects can feel reassured that Grant can provide them with a full range of sustainable heating technologies for their heating project which includes a main heat source, heat emitters, hot water storage and supporting technologies all from a brand they can trust.

Think Heating. Think Grant.

Visit www.grant.eu for more information on Grantʼs range of innovative heating solutions and R&D breakthrough Follow Grant on Facebook and Twitter @GrantIRL or Instagram @Grant_IRL

Dodder Greenway Project

The Minister for Transport and the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, joined the Mayor of South Dublin County, Cllr Peter Kavanagh, Anne Graham, Chief Executive Officer of the National Transport Authority, Dave Hennessy Assistant Director Southern Regional Assembly and South Dublin County Council Chief Executive Daniel McLoughlin, to open the Dodder Greenway Bridge. The Dodder Greenway, being developed to be a Greenway of International renown it is expected to be on par with the best greenways in the world. Once complete, it is envisaged to be over 17km long, linking Sir Rogersonʼs Quay in the City Centre to the entrance of the Bohernabreena Reservoirs at Glenasmole, South Dublin. Although developed as a combination of off-road and on-road, it utilises existing facilities with the Dodder Valley as much as possible to connect the linear parklands along the route. As part of the bridges phase of the Dodder Greenway initiative, South Dublin County Council has built three new pedestrian and cycle bridges, 750m of new pathway and 2.6km of upgraded paths. This phase of the project cost approximately €5.8M and is being delivered by South Dublin County Council with funding provided by the National Transport Authority (€4.3M) and the European Regional Development Fundʼs S&E Regional Programme (€1.5M). The opening of the bridges is a key milestone in the overall Dodder Greenway vision to link Dublin City Centre to the Dublin Mountains via Ballsbridge, Milltown, Rathfarnham, Firhouse and Tallaght. The South Dublin County section of the Greenway stretches from the Bohernabreena Reservoir in Tallaght to Orwell Park in Rathfarnham.

The Dodder Greenway represents a major new transport and recreational facility for Dublin, catering for both commuter and social cyclists. The route takes specific account of the rich ecology of the area and is a combination of off-road and on-road cycleways utilising existing facilities within the Dodder Valley as much as possible and connecting the linear parkland along the route. Mick Mulhern Director of Services for LUPT has said about the Dodder Greenway ʻThe Dodder Greenway is a fantastic new walking and cycling route for South Dublin. We have already seen a huge increase in the numbers of people using it for leisure, recreation and commuting and we have even small café businesses opening up along it. Once the whole route is completed it will be great for the whole of Dublin. The Dodder Greenway is a major part of South Dublin County Councilʼs Cycle South Dublin strategy. Approved by the Councilʼs elected members in April 2021, the ambitious Cycle South Dublin programme of work seeks to progress works on 260km of new and improved cycle lanes across the County. Cycle South Dublin reflects the increasing importance of making cycling a realistic and integral part of how people move around the County and includes 63 projects. Speaking at the launch, Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan TD said: “We celebrate the opening of the Dodder Bridges because they are vital pieces of a planned network of safe infrastructure. The Cycle South Dublin strategy is one of the most ambitious programmes for cycling in the country and will deliver a 260km network of cycle lanes connecting homes with the places people need to go on a daily basis. By improving and expanding these facilities, we can ensure our cities, towns and villages are more connected and accessible while making sustainable travel a real alternative to private car use. Thatʼs why we are investing €360 million per annum over the ten years to 2030, with a view to providing active and safe ways of travelling right across the country.” Anne Graham, Chief Executive Officer, National Transport Authority, said, “NTA is delighted to have cofunded this phase of work on the Dodder Greenway. We worked closely with South Dublin County Council to deliver this scheme, which will make walking and cycling safer and more attractive for more people in this part of Dublin and beyond. “The Dodder Greenway is precisely the kind of projects that we need to focus on as part of the effort to tackle climate change and provide an alternative to the private car.” Dave Hennessy Assistant Director Southern Regional Assembly said ʻʼ “Congratulations to South Dublin County Council on the successful delivery of the Dodder Valley Bridges and how they used EU funding from the ERDF S&E Regional Programme. Projects such as this are a great example of how our EU membership directly benefits our regions and local communities.” Cllr Peter Kavanagh, Mayor of South Dublin County, said, “The Dodder Greenway is a fantastic piece of infrastructure that is going to link the Southern half of South Dublin all the way to Sir John Rogersonʼs Quay when completed. It represents the future for many thousands of commuters here in South Dublin as we try and create a motile shift away from the private car leading to increased quality of life, better air quality and safer streets for everyone”

Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage budget package of just under €6bn inister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh OʼBrien TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning, Peter Burke TD, and Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan have announced a budget package for 2022 of just under €6bn. Key spending areas include:

• Capital housing funding of over €4bn as committed to in Housing for All: -€2.6bn Exchequer - €1.5bn LDA and HFA • Current housing funding of €1.4bn • 11,820 new homes will be added to the available supply of social housing through build, acquisition and leasing, with a focus on new build (9,000 homes) • Building on the commitments in Budget 2021 and the new schemes provided for in the Affordable Housing Act 2021 and the Land Development Agency Act, €676m will support a package of measures to deliver more affordable housing, including 4,130 affordable purchase and cost rental homes • €194m to ensure those experiencing homelessness are supported and helped to successfully exit homelessness as well as c.€40m in the provision of health supports • €1.57bn investment in water services • €85m will facilitate energy efficiency improvements to social housing homes • €30m will enable 1,500 void homes to be remediated and brought back into use for letting to households on social housing waiting lists • €90m to facilitate up to 13,250 home adaptations thereby assisting people with disabilities and older people to continue to live in their own homes for longer • €159m for the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) • €225m contribution to the Local Government Fund • Heritage funding for 2022 will amount to €133.5m (a 36% increase) across capital and current contributing to the conservation of Irelandʼs heritage for present and future generations

Commenting following the announcement Minister OʼBrien said, “Government have stated loudly and clearly that the successful implementation of Housing for All is an absolute priority. The record level of investment provided for in Budget 2022, will ensure that Government can deliver on the commitments to provide affordable homes to purchase and rent, to deliver social homes all across our country and to ending homelessness by 2030. We are focused on tackling dereliction and vacancy while supporting a wide range of housing programmes.

Next year will see total funding of €5.5 billion in current and capital being made available for housing. €4 billion in capital broken down as €2.6bn exchequer and €1.5bn in Land Development Agency (LDA) and Housing Finance Agency (HFA) funding, as well as €1.4bn in current funding. This is the single biggest allocation for housing investment by any Government ever in a year. Our commitment to supporting those experiencing homelessness, to helping them successfully exit into secure tenancies and to preventing people from entering homelessness in the first instance is evident in the increased funding of €194m for homeless services in 2022. Funding of €676m will support a package of affordability measures, ensuring we deliver over 4,000 new affordable purchase and cost rental homes in 2022. Next year will be the first year in well over a decade that affordable homes are made available for purchase as well as the being the year that our new form of tenure, Cost Rental is significantly scaled up. Along with housing there are many key budget provisions for my Department. The significant increase in funding for Irish Water, for example, is very welcome to ensure the provision of critical infrastructure which has knock-on effects on our supply of housing. We have also secured further increases in the areas of Planning, Local Government and Heritage,” concluded Minister OʼBrien.

Minister of State Burke added, “As Minister for Local Government, I am committed to strengthening the Local Government Sector and we will be making a contribution of €224.8m to support local authorities in their work in 2022. This represents an increase of €32.8m on core funding from the Local Government Fund in 2021. In addition to these Budget 2022 measures, I want to highlight how this Government has continued its unprecedented support for the local government sector, with the provision of a commercial rates waiver once again during 2021. A nine month rates waiver for 2021, funded by Government, at a cost of €480m supported local businesses in payment of their rates bills, and ensured continuity of services at local authority level. This support has been in place since the beginning of the pandemic. In addition, we are now committing to fund a more targeted rates waiver for the final three months of 2021. This will cover ratepayers in the hospitality sector such as hotels, restaurants and pubs as well as the arts and entertainment sector while ensuring our Local Authorities receive the full amount ordinarily due from these categories of businesses. This, combined with the €840m provided by the Government in COVID related supports in 2020, brings the total level of support for the local government sector in 2020 and 2021 to €1.38bn Supporting vulnerable households with their housing needs is of paramount importance to me as Minister with responsibility for accommodation for older persons, people with a disability and the traveller community. We are providing over €213m in dedicated funding in Budget 2022 to meet their needs.” Minister of State Noonan concluded, “I am delighted to have secured €133.5m for Heritage in this budget. The increases announced today recognise this Governmentʼs commitment to tackling the biodiversity emergency by investing in the protection, restoration and enhancement of nature. Iʼm particularly pleased that the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the single largest component of that allocation, will receive over €47m. “This investment also recognises the value of the role our built and archaeological heritage plays in Irish life, with combined current and capital funding of almost €24m. This will aid its much needed protection, creating many thousands of daysʼ employment for skilled conservation specialists and tradespeople across hundreds of projects nationwide. “Heritage funding reaches into every corner of the country, delivering benefits to our most precious habitats and most vulnerable species, supporting work to enhance our 87,000-hectare network of national parks and nature reserves, and providing financial assistance and employment opportunities to those who care for our natural, built and archaeological heritage.”

Minister OʼBrien welcomes Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority Statement of Strategy 2021 – 2024 Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA) Statement of Strategy 2021 – 2024 The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh OʼBrien TD has welcomed the publication of the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority Statement of Strategy. The Strategy Statement covers the period 2021 to 2024 and outlines how the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA) intend to deliver on their mandate over the next three years. Commenting at the Departmentʼs Customs House offices, Minister OʼBrien said, “I am pleased to be launching this Strategy Statement which sets out the vision and mission of the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority for the next three years. AHBRA will be an important element in support of our ambitious housing agenda, overseeing the effective governance, financial management and performance of all AHBs.” The Strategy sets out five key strategic objectives which AHBRA will aim to achieve: i. Reliable and efficient AHB Registration Framework. ii. Proportionate standards and compliance frameworks. iii. Transparent and consistent risk-based regulation. iv. Consistent and effective communication with our stakeholders. v. An agile, flexible and accountable organisation. The Regulator has a number of functions, one of which is to draft standards against which AHBs can be assessed. The standards will cover matters relating to corporate governance; financial management and reporting; property and asset management; and tenancy management. Draft standards were published on AHBRAʼs website on 1 October 2021 and will remain there until 29 October 2021, allowing for representations to be made in accordance with the Act. The Minister added, “the 28-day representation period taking place during October presents an important opportunity for stakeholders to get involved and have their say on what the standards should look like. AHBs make a vital contribution to the delivery of social housing across the country. Statutory regulation will provide further assurances to tenants, the public and potential investors that AHBs operate in a secure environment. AHBRA has an important role to play and I wish them every

success as they move towards becoming operational in 2022.”

Four Wastewater Treatment Plants Open In Sligo

A special event has been held to mark the official opening of four wastewater treatment plants in Co Sligo. Approximately €16 million was invested in the Grange, Strandhill, Tubbercurry and Ballinafad Wastewater Treatment Plants to ensure treated wastewater is now fully compliant with EU Urban Wastewater Directives before being safely discharged back into the natural environment. Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Cllr Paul Taylor was joined by representatives from Irish Water and more to mark the opening. Speaking at the official opening Councillor Taylor said: "I'm delighted to be here to witness the successful completion and official opening of Grange, Strandhill, Tubbercurry and Ballinafad Wastewater Treatment Plants. The completion of these essential projects is vital to ensure we can provide a platform for future growth in these communities. They will also make a huge difference to the water quality of nearby coastal areas including Rosses Point and at Streedagh Beach and the water quality in Tubbercurry Stream, River Moy and in Lough Arrow." The new and upgraded treatment plants will bring huge benefits to the local communities in terms of protection of the environment; improved water quality for all water sport enthusiasts; swimmers, surfers, kayakers as well as marine life. The works in Strandhill included the construction of a new inlet works, storm water holding tank, secondary biological treatment, settlement tanks, a control building, sludge thickening facility as well as an upgrade to the existing Caravan Park Pumping Station. The capacity of the upgraded wastewater treatment plant in Strandhill has more than doubled and can now serve a population equivalent of 3,700.

In Grange, the capacity of the upgraded treatment plant has now tripled and the plant can serve a population equivalent of 900. The upgrade works also included the construction of new inlet works, a storm water holding tank, a secondary biological treatment process, final settlement tanks, a control building and sludge thickening facility. As part of this investment, a state of the art wastewater treatment plant was built in Tubbercurry. The capacity of the new plant has more than doubled and can now serve a population equivalent of 3,500. The works also included upgrades to the inlet pumping station, new inlet works, storm water holding tank, a secondary biological treatment process, final settlement tanks, a control building and sludge thickening facility. A gravity sewer pipeline to the wastewater treatment plant was also constructed as well as a rising main to bring treated wastewater to the outfall location at the River Moy. In Ballinafad a new wastewater treatment plant was built within the site of the existing plant which now serves a population equivalent of 200. The works included the construction of new inlet works, a storm water holding tank, a secondary biological treatment process, settlement tanks and a sludge storage facility. Anthony Skeffington, Irish Water's Regional Operations Manager added: "The size and scale of the challenge of wastewater services in Ireland is well documented. In 2020 alone, Irish Water invested €333 million in wastewater infrastructure, an increase of €25 million on 2019. Approximately, 60% of the raw sewage entering waterways in Ireland has now been eliminated and we are on track to fully removing the majority of raw sewage discharges by 2025. We are achieving 93% compliance with the urban wastewater treatment directive, but we know we have more to do. "The upgrades to the four wastewater treatment plants that we are celebrating today will ensure that wastewater is adequately treated and meets appropriate standards before being safely discharged back into the environment."

Turfs up in Liscannor as sod is turned on new Wastewater Treatment Plant The community of Liscannor was riding high on the crest of a wave this morning at Liscannor Harbour where Irish Water, working in partnership with Clare County Council turned the sod on a new Wastewater Treatment Plant for the village. And the good news kept flowing for the Banner County with confirmation that contracts have been signed and issued to provide wastewater treatment in Kilfenora and Kilrush, respectively. “This is a significant day for County Clare and its natural environment,” said Caroline OʼReilly, Programme Manager with Irish Water. “These projects have been in the pipeline for many years and are now finally coming to the fore. I am delighted to be here today to represent Irish Water and to meet representatives from the communities of Liscannor, Kilrush and Kilfenora. These projects will eliminate the raw and poorly treated sewage that is flowing into their beautiful waterways and the Atlantic and will support social and economic development, while also protecting the integrity of our environment.” Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, PJ Ryan hails from Cratloe, an hour to the east of Liscannor. Cllr Ryan has been an elected member of Clare County Council since 2009 and although he is not from the areas benefitting from the new infrastructure, he has been involved in many a discussion about the issues at these settlements inside and outside of the council chamber. “This significant investment by Irish Water in new and upgraded wastewater infrastructure in Liscannor, Kilrush and Kilfenora is long awaited and very welcome. These projects will result in improved quality of coastal and groundwaters, thereby helping to protect the environment and improve the quality of life in our communities. It is my hope that the people of Clare will build on these successful projects and that they will help to revitalise the economy and communities of West and North Clare.”

Also, in attendance was Senator Róisín Garvey, who along with other elected representatives have campaigned for wastewater infrastructure for the Banner County for many years. Senator Garvey also featured in Irish Waterʼs compelling documentary, “Story of Water” where she documented the issue of untreated wastewater in Clare. “It's a great day for Liscannor and the whole bay. Many people, including myself, worked hard on getting this infrastructure prioritised through campaigning to highlight the issues. It is super to see Irish Water recognising the badly needed infrastructure and committing to put in a state-of-the-art system with a much more realistic capacity than the old system.” The works in Liscannor will be carried out by the EPS Group and some of the work details include the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant which will serve a population equivalent of 1,790; the construction of a storm water storage tank as well as a new pump station with emergency storage; the construction of approximately 1.3km of sewer pipelines; the connection to the existing outfall pipe to safely discharge treated wastewater into Liscannor Bay. There were other familiar faces at the harbour lending their support to the projects too. “Story of Water” contributor and well-known surfer, Ollie OʼFlaherty commented: "It's great to see infrastructural investment in the area. In recent years, Liscannor Bay has had issues with water quality resulting in multiple beach closures in Lahinch, notably in summer months. These have a very negative economic effect on local business which rely heavily on the summer months. As a surfer and someone environmentally minded, I am conscious of the detrimental effect mankind can have on the ocean, so itʼs important to make improvements where we can and protect this incredible, natural amenity.” Councillor Shane Talty, is well known locally around the bay area, and has also been campaigning for such infrastructure along with his fellow elected representatives for a long time: “I welcome the hugely important and long-awaited delivery of such a key piece of infrastructure for the village of Liscannor. It obviously addresses the well documented deficiencies in the existing system. But more excitingly, it will release the untapped potential of the village to develop over the coming decades. Building a year-round economy and living population which will support the great community of Liscannor.”

Pat Dowling Chief Executive Clare County Council, PJ Ryan Mayor of Clare, Caroline OʼReilly Irish Water and Ollie OʼFlaherty local surfer

In Kilfenora and Kilrush, the works will also be carried out by the EPS Group and will include the decommissioning of the current Wastewater Treatment Plant in Kilfenora and the construction of a new plant that will serve the population equivalent of 330. In Kilrush, the plant will be significantly larger and will cater for a population equivalent of 8,500. Irish Water continues to work with our Local Authority partners, contractors and others to safeguard the health and well-being of both staff and the public and to ensure the continuity of critical drinking water and wastewater services. Irish Water would like to remind people to follow the HSE COVID-19 advice and ensure frequent handwashing. This is a red-letter day for the Banner County, one that marks a new beginning for the communities and their surrounding areas.

Ministers visit Farranfore water project to hear about the benefits The 600mm main is part of the network, supplying water from Killarney to Tralee, Castleisland and Castlemaine Irish Water, working in partnership with Kerry County Council, is delivering a project to replace a problematic trunk water main through Farranfore village on behalf of the people of Kerry. The 600mm main is part of the spine of the network in Kerry, supplying water from Killarney to Tralee, Castleisland, Castlemaine and surrounding areas. The section in Farranfore has burst numerous times in recent years. Works began early last week on the project. Minister Norma Foley and Minister Darragh O'Brien visited the site today to meet staff involved in delivering the project and view their work first hand. Eamonn Hickson from Radio Kerry also visited the site last Thursday night, interviewing staff and seeing the works underway. The works are being carried out during evening and night-time hours – from 7pm to 7am Monday evening to Friday morning and will continue until the end of October. To ensure as little disruption to homes, businesses, commuters and holiday makers as possible, Irish Water, Kerry County Council and our contractor, Ward and Burke, have agreed that the works will be carried out by night. The N22 Killarney to Tralee road will have a one lane stop-go system in place from 7pm-7am, Monday to Friday from August 30 until the end of October 2021, with the road reopening fully during the day. No works will be carried out over the weekend for the duration of the works schedule. An optional alternative route that bypasses the works will be signposted and vehicles may take the alternative routes if they wish. It will come as no surprise to residents and businesses of the area that there have been regular bouts of unplanned outages in the recent past due to the aging network. The size and scale of this challenge, not only in Kerry but nationally, is well documented and reacting to this, Irish Water is implementing their strategic plan, the Leakage Reduction Programme, to ensure security of supply, the reduction of high levels of leakage and the improvement of water quality in the county. Steven Blennerhassett is Regional Delivery Lead with Irish Water; “We are delighted to welcome Minister Norma Foley and Minister Darragh O'Brien to site today to hear first-hand about our progress in delivering this project. These works are part of Irish Waterʼs national Leakage Reduction Programme and began last Monday night and we have made great progress in the first week, with 190m of the 1km of new trunk main already installed. “Eamonn Hickson from Radio Kerry visited on Thursday night and met staff from Irish Water, Kerry County Council and Ward and Burke who gave him a tour of the works. “Irish Water understands these types of works can be inconvenient and we are working with Kerry County Council, our contractor Ward and Burke and all stakeholders to make every effort to minimise any disruption the works may cause. “In order to ensure minimal disruption, our crews have finished and had the road cleared each weekday morning at 7am. Local businesses will remain open for the duration of the works. A minimum of 48 hoursʼ notice will be given ahead of any planned outages and at this stage, there will likely be two planned outages and that are both due to take place in October.”

As the works get underway in Farranfore, Irish Water and colleagues in Kerry County Council continue to safeguard water supply right across the Kingdom and appreciate the cooperation of those impacted by the improvements.

Staff from IW_KCC_Ward and Burke on site at Farranfore

Irish Water marks the end of the discharge of raw sewage from Cobh Town Irish Water and Cork County Council today marked a significant milestone in the Cork Lower Harbour Main Drainage Project to end the decades-long practice of discharging raw sewage into Cork Lower Harbour, protecting the environment and supporting the sustainable development and growth of local communities in the years to come. Taoiseach Micheál Martin officially opened the Cork Dockyard Pumping Station, which transfers raw sewage from Cobh for treatment. This last step in the Cork Lower Harbour Main Drainage Project means that 20,000 homes and businesses are now connected to the overall scheme and that the equivalent of 40,000 wheelie bins of raw sewage no longer discharges daily to the waters of the harbour. This is good news for recreation, tourism and economic development in the area. Speaking at the official opening, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “This is a historic day for the communities living in and around Cork Lower Harbour, completing a project that ensures a cleaner harbour, and provides new opportunities for sustainable social and economic development. “We have already seen the benefits that this project has brought to Ringaskiddy, Shanbally, Crosshaven, Carrigaline, Passage West and Monkstown.

“This final stage will add to that improvement – providing further capacity for growth and enhancing the wonderful amenity that is Cork Harbour, the second largest natural harbour in the world.” Mayor of Cork County Council, Cllr Gillian Coughlan said: “The ending of raw sewage discharges from Cobh town will make a huge difference to the town and surrounding area, by providing opportunities for sustainable development around Cork Lower Harbour and increasing the potential for tourism and recreational activities in the area.”

Johanna Murphy, Cobh and Harbour Chamber President, Tony Keohane, Chairman Ervia Board, An Taoiseach Micheal Martin TD, Eamon Gallen, General Manager Irish Water, Cllr Gillian Coughlan, Mayor Cork County Council

Eamon Gallen, Irish Waterʼs General Manager, said: “Today is a hugely significant milestone in Irish waterʼs work to eliminate raw sewage discharges in Ireland. “The completion of this work brings to 17 the number of towns and villages across the country where Irish Water has built new wastewater infrastructure since 2014. Well over half of the raw sewage entering waterways in Ireland has now been eliminated and we are on track to fully remove the majority of raw sewage discharges in Ireland by 2025. This represents an overall investment of €650 million towards improving water quality in our rivers, lakes and seas, ensuring compliance with Irish and European legislation to the benefit of our local communities, our environment and our economy.” Déaglán Healy, Irish Waterʼs project manager, added: “We have come a long way since we started work on this project in 2014. “When we started, the equivalent of 40,000 wheelie bins of raw sewage was discharging into Cork Harbour every day. We built a state of the art wastewater treatment plant in Shanbally and connected existing networks in Crosshaven and Carrigaline to the plant, so that half of this sewage was treated by 2017. We expanded the sewer network to connect the towns of Ringaskiddy, Shanbally, Passage West and Monkstown, by early 2019. We then created a vital link between Cobh and Monkstown by completing two of the longest directional drills in the country to install sewer pipes some 60m under the Estuary. “Today, after two years working to expand the sewer network in Cobh, we are now transferring the raw sewage from Cobh for treatment via that Estuary Crossing, before its safe discharge to sea – itʼs a great day. I am proud to have worked on this project and I am thankful to all those that have contributed to make this a reality. The Cobh Network works have been delivered safely through a hugely collaborative effort between Irish Water, Cork County Council, Nicholas O Dwyer, Farrans Sorensen Joint Venture and of course, all the communities and businesses whose cooperation and patience have allowed these works to succeed. Iʼd like to say a huge thank you to all.” Irish Water is working at this time, with our local authority partners, contractors and others to safeguard the health and well-being of staff and the public and to ensure the continuity of drinking water and wastewater services. For more information on the project, please contact the project team at corklowerharbour@water.ie or view our Cork Lower Harbour project page. Irish Water is committed to keeping customers informed about their water and wastewater supplies across multiple platforms 24/7 and we encourage customers to engage with us on our Twitter channels @IWCare and @IrishWater, on Facebook and LinkedIn, through our customer care helpline which is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and by setting their location on our website.

Construction works begin on new Kerrykeel Sewerage Scheme Irish Water is delighted to announce that construction has commencement on the Kerrykeel Sewerage Scheme. The new wastewater treatment plant and sewerage infrastructure to be constructed as part of this scheme will eliminate the discharge of raw sewage into Brunside River and subsequently Mulroy Bay. Irish Water, working in partnership with Donegal County Council, are commencing the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant in Kerrykeel as well as the construction of a new pumping station, pumped wastewater main and outfall pipe. Once operational, the new wastewater treatment plant and associated infrastructure will ensure compliance with wastewater discharge regulations. It will also improve water quality in Brunside River and subsequently Mulroy Bay and protect recreational waters for fishing, kayaking and other water sports. It will also help in protecting the integrity of the local marine environment and supporting future economic and social development in the area. The works which have commenced this month will be carried out by Veolia Water Ireland working on behalf of Irish Water and will be completed by early 2023. Speaking about the project, Colm Claffey, Regional Delivery Lead with Irish Water, said: “We are looking forward to delivering this important project on behalf of the local community in Kerrykeel. This project will put an end to the discharge of untreated wastewater into Brunside River and subsequently Mulroy Bay. The project will also enhance the local environment and provide a platform for social and economic development of the area well into the future. “The project will involve the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant that will serve a population equivalent of 500, which equates to stopping over 270 wheelie bins of raw sewage being discharged to Brunside River every day. A new pumping station and pumped wastewater main will also be constructed, which will transfer wastewater to the new wastewater treatment plant for appropriate treatment. Once the wastewater is treated at the new plant, the treated water will be discharged safely back into the environment via a new outfall pipe into Brunside River. “We look forward to working with the local community to deliver this essential project in conjunction with our partners Donegal County Council and Veolia Water Ireland and eliminating the discharge of untreated wastewater into Brunside River and subsequently Mulroy Bay.” Irish Water and our appointed Contractor, Veolia Water Ireland, will continue to communicate with the local community in Kerrykeel regarding the upcoming works as well as throughout the project.

For more details on the project, please check out our Kerrykeel Sewerage Scheme project page.

200,000 Dubliners to benefit from the completion of new Stillorgan Reservoir Over 200,000 Dubliners will now enjoy a much safer and more secure water supply with the completion of the new Stillorgan Reservoir by Irish Water. High quality drinking water from the new covered reservoir is now being supplied to customers across south Dublin as a result of this landmark project.

The original Stillorgan Reservoir had supplied drinking water to the community for over 150 years. It was the largest treated water reservoir in the country and was one of the last remaining uncovered treated water reservoirs in Europe, where treated drinking water was left exposed to the elements, with consequent risk of contamination. By building a new covered reservoir, Irish Water has taken an important step in ensuring that the water supply infrastructure is in place to meet current requirements and the future needs of its customers. The size and scale of this project is very significant. The project involved draining down and decommissioning the three existing reservoirs at the Stillorgan site, and the construction of a new covered reservoir within the footprint of the largest reservoir. John Prendeville, Project Manager with Irish Water, explained: “Generations of Dubliners have been supplied with clean drinking water from this site for over 150 years. The Stillorgan Reservoir Upgrade Project represents a €50m investment in the long term solution to safeguard this strategically important part of Dublinʼs water supply for the future. The reservoir site will remain a live drinking water storage, treatment, and distribution centre for over 200,000 customers and an essential part of Dublinʼs water services infrastructure for the long term.

“The new reservoir has the capacity to store 160 million litres of treated drinking water – thatʼs the equivalent of over 60 Olympic sized swimming pools. This will mean a much safer and more secure water supply for customers across south Dublin. The significant milestone has been delivered on time and to budget through a hugely collaborative effort between Irish Water, Dublin City Council, Nicholas OʼDwyer Ltd, Murphy International Ltd and of course, the local community, whose cooperation and patience have allowed these works to succeed.” The Stillorgan Reservoir site was originally constructed as part of the Vartry Water Supply Scheme. The overall scheme includes two impounding reservoirs at Roundwood, County Wicklow, a water treatment plant, a four kilometre long tunnel under Callowhill and 40 kilometres of trunk mains to deliver water to the Stillorgan Reservoir. At the time, the scheme greatly improved sanitation in Dublin City and helped reduce outbreaks of cholera, typhus and other diseases associated with contaminated water. Work began on the upgrade project in 2018 with the draining down of the Gray Reservoir, which had not been fully drained since it was built in the late 1800ʼs. The new covered reservoir was then constructed within the footprint of the Gray Reservoir. The new reservoir is a key component of Dublinʼs strategic water infrastructure, which links the supply from five major water treatment plants through an integrated network of trunk mains and reservoirs. The reservoir and associated infrastructure will have the capacity to support future water demand through 2031 and beyond. Irish Water previously installed a new Ultra Violet disinfection system to mitigate the recontamination risk of drinking water stored in the reservoir which resulted in the removal of the site from the EPAʼs Remedial Action List in 2015. Now that the new covered reservoir is operational, draining and decommissioning of the remaining open reservoir storage on the site has commenced. The decommissioned areas will be landscaped and the completed site will be reserved for future water services infrastructure to secure drinking water for the community. To find out more about the fascinating history of Stillorgan Reservoir and its role in supplying generations of Dubliners with drinking water, check out the documentary The Story of Water which can be viewed online at www.water.ie/storyofwater.

Benefits of new Wastewater Treatment Plant in Wexford outlined in video campaign Irish Water has produced a series of new videos to outline the benefits and progress being made to eliminate raw sewage discharged into our waterways in locations across the country. The first video, which will go live on Tuesday October 19 focuses on Wexford and as the drone footage rolls across the estuary of the three sisters; the Barrow, Nore and Suir, the unmistakable beauty of the area is immediately clear for all to see. Thousands have flocked to the beautiful village of Arthurstown in the townland of Coleman in south Wexford for many decades and its neighbouring Duncannon and Ballyhack are also popular seaside destinations, but there was always one problem. Poorly treated sewage was being discharged into the sea for decades, blemishing the inimitable beauty of these amazing coastal gems. But that is soon set to change with a new wastewater treatment plant being built in Arthurstown that will cater for all three settlements. Lorraine Waters is the Manager of the Hook Lighthouse and Heritage Centre and is one of the local contributors in the video; “There are 19 local beaches in a ten-mile radius here. Itʼs absolutely incredible. And thatʼs why, you know, why we were so excited when we heard that this new wastewater treatment plant was in the pipeline and that would ensure that, as weʼre advertising our area that we know that we are giving that quality of water. At the end of the day, its why people are coming down here, that wide open space. Itʼs that beautiful clear water.” Caroline Helfer of Hooked Kitesurfing and is passionate about water sports; “I think itʼs a great thing they are doing and its important, especially for such a small country thatʼs very very much focused on water activity and surrounded by it [water]. Water quality is very important for everybody. Our kiting lessons are in the water, so our students end up properly fully submerged in the water, so when thereʼs a problem, we have to warn the students that there is a health risk attached to them doing the activity at the time. If there was a Blue Flag beach here, it would bring in additional tourism activity. It would probably bring in additional businesses to the area. From a revenue point of view, tourism itself, for the economy, it would make a huge impact” The new wastewater treatment plant will have the capacity to cater for a population equivalent of nearly 2,000 people and will protect the integrity of the environment. And there was more good news for Wexford too with a contract due to be signed in the coming weeks for a Wastewater Treatment Plant at Kilmore Quay with works set to begin in early 2022. That project is due for completion in 2023. Across the bay in Dunmore East and all along the Waterford coastline, the practice of discharging raw sewage into the waterways has been eliminated since 2017. The investment of €24 million there delivered seven new wastewater treatment plants in towns and villages across Co. Waterford including Ardmore, Ballyduff/Kilmeadan, Cappoquin, Dunmore East, Kilmacthomas, Stradbally and Tallow. Sixty percent of the raw sewage entering waterways in Ireland has now been eliminated, with 17 locations complete, and a plan to remove the remainder in the years to come. Irish Water is progressing plans to remove the rest by prioritising the areas where we can make the biggest impacts first. This year, we will start construction in at least 14 locations across the country, with 8 more starting in 2022. We are on track to removing the majority of raw sewage discharges by the end of 2025. The size and scale of this work is significant, with an estimated €650million investment. Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of all public water and wastewater services in Ireland. We are committed to continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support the growth needed in housing and across our economy, while protecting the environment and safeguarding water supplies.

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Skid Resistance (SCRIM) Surveys: We own and operate two SCRIM machines to cater for the needs of our Irish clients. We are the only commercial operator of a SCRIM machine in Ireland. We provide SCRIM measurement and analysis services to the NRA, PPP firms and Irish local authorities. Asset Inventory Network Surveys: PMS can carry out an inventory of roadside items in order to populate a complete Route Asset Inventory of a given road section. The relevant video or LiDAR data is collected at speeds of up to 115kmh. The data collected is normally referenced to GPS coordinate systems allowing integration to GIS, if required.

MS Pavement Management Services Ltd. (PMS) is a civil engineering consultancy firm specialising in testing, evaluation and management of roads and airports. The company was founded in 1992, and has offices in Galway and Dublin. PMS is INAB accredited for all of its pavement services

Road Surface Condition Surveys We own two Dynatest Road Surface Profiler vehicles to simultaneously measure pavement performance parameters at high speed (c. 70-80 km/h). These parameters include Rut Depth, IRI, Geometrics, Surface Texture and Video.

Laser Crack Measurement System (LCMS) The Laser Crack Measurement System (LCMS) is a highspeed and high-resolution transverse profiling system. Typically, the LCMS system can capture one road profile every few millimetres (5 mm at 100km/h) by using two laser profilers that acquire the shape of the pavement. Each profile gives full 4-meter width 3D profiles with 1mm resolution allowing for the characterization and the visualisation of high quality images and shape (texture) of the road surface.

Structural Surveys: For structural evaluation, we now own three Falling Weight Deflectometers (FWD) for use on roads and airports. PMS now own and operate a high-speed Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) system. Since PMS has introduced GPR capabilities we have carried out pavement construction surveys for the NRA and a wide range of local authorities.

Highway Testing Laboratory (HTL) HTL offers a full suite of laboratory material testing on granular, bituminous and cementitious materials to local authorities, material suppliers and contractors. It also offers a comprehensive on-site testing programme for pavement materials, and has carried out QA/QC programmes for DAA, NRA, local authority project staff and specialised surfacing contractors. Mix design for new and recycled materials have also been carried out for a number of material suppliers.

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Ireland 9 City Gate, Lower Bridge Street, Dublin 8, D08 HK22 Tel: 01 633 4725 Fax: 01 633 4562 Nationwide Data Collection (NDC) commenced trading in Ireland and the UK in 2008 and a new European office was opened in the Netherlands in 2016. NDC provide specialist data collection services for transport planning, traffic engineering and market research. Our staff can offer clients many years of survey experience which equals or exceeds that of any of our competitors. We possess a breadth of technical resources to address any scale of data collection project with specific experience across a wide range of data collection areas. Our aim is to rapidly grow by increased geographical coverage and technical diversification to become the largest independent data collection consultancy in Europe. For further information see our advert on page 2

Why Drop Test Reports are critical when approving Fall Protection Safety Grids for Water & Wastewater Networks. Attention to safety is critical when selecting steel access solutions which facilitate the safe extraction of equipment from a chamber and ensures the safe movement of the operators while doing so. Specification for Fall Protection Safety Grids The required specification for pumping stations, wet wells and valve chambers, is for a hinged, fall protection grid to be provided below the access cover and to be capable of withstanding a 250kg load over the total area of the grid. The lifting effort of the grid shall not exceed 25kg. The relevant standards when specifying fabricated steel, Flush Fit or Above Ground covers are: EN 124-3: and BS 9124 depending on the clear opening. As EN 124 does not refer to safety grids or testing, the Drop Test outlined in BS 9124 provides a comprehensive safeguard against varying standards in production that can occur. Fall protection safety grids are the most important safety feature when specifying access solutions, to protect operators against the risk of injury or death from falls into open chambers. The Drop Test Explained This test requires the safety grid to be capable of withstanding a 140kg mass applied over a footprint area of 300mm x 200mm and dropped from a height of 2 meters onto any point of the grid. This simulates (and exceeds) the vertical impact of a human being falling onto the grid, at any point onto an area similar in size to their footprint. Request a Drop Test Report to ensure safety grids comply fully to the requirements of the standard. Please see link for our Drop Test to BS 9124 video clip: The video has been published on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c-f31M7GDU Designed for Safety and Peace of Mind Additional safety features, such as working platforms will allow operators safe access when there are large openings that require multiple covers. Selecting the correct access & fall protection solutions for water networks can be a daunting challenge with factors such as compliance, operator & public safety, ergonomics and asset security requiring equal consideration. EJ are here to help. We can offer specification guidance for a range of infrastructure access solutions in ductile iron, galvanised steel, or composite material to suit your project requirements. We offer Engineers Ireland approved CPD seminars - contact us on 057 9123100 to organise a webinar for your organisation.

LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS - VOL. 40. NO. 3