Kinvara sewerage contracts imminent

Contracts for the long-awaited sewerage scheme in Kinvara are due to be signed by the end of April, it was confirmed this week.

Local Fine Gael TD, Ciarán Cannon said he is in regular contact with Irish Water CEO, John Tierney, in relation to the project. This week, Mr Tierney confirmed that tender process for the contract is eight weeks, with submissions due on March 27. Contracts for the plant, which local people have sought for decades, are due to be signed at the end of April.

Deputy Cannon said he is delighted that work on the €5.2 million project could begin this year.

“I receive regular updates from Irish Water on this particular project and I’m pleased that Irish Water has confirmed to me this week that all is progressing well and that it is their intention to award the construction contract before the end of April.

“It has taken a long time to reach this point and it seems like a lifetime ago, back in 2011, when Phil Hogan, who was Minister for the Environment at the time, confirmed to me that his department was committing very significant funds to this project. Since then, we have had the transition of responsibility for the Kinvara project from Galway County Council to Irish Water but we haven’t lost any momentum. Irish Water is also committed to delivering this new plant and network and has included the project in its 2014-2016 National Investment Plan,” said Deputy Cannon.

“This looks like being the last summer where thousands of gallons of raw sewage will be pumped into Kinvara Bay,” he said.

“Once the sewage works are complete, we can then set about investing €1.5m in the streets and footpaths of Kinvara. This funding commitment was made by my colleague, Leo Varadkar, who was Minister for Transport at the time. I’m sure the people of Kinvara and its environs, who have waited patiently for works to commence, will be pleased with the final outcome.

“I am continuing to engage with Irish Water to convince them to extend the new sewage network to all parts of Kinvara village, including some newly-developed areas on its periphery,” concluded Deputy Cannon.

By Nicola Corless