€126K to be allocated to Kildare to improve water services in the county

Kildare will receive €126,000 in funding from a total pool of €20 million that is being provided by the government for water services in rural areas.

The fund is split between counties outside of Dublin, and Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy also announced that it will be increased to €25 million for next year.

Mayo will receive the highest amount in funding, with €3.5 million being allocated towards the Connacht county, while Galway receives the second highest amount - a figure of €944,000.

“High quality sustainable water services are a fundamental necessity to our lives and do not distinguish between rural or urban areas," stated Minister Murphy.

"This is why the Government continues to prioritise funding for the group water sector in parallel with the overall funding for water services generally. Throughout the length and breadth of rural Ireland infrastructural investment in water services is needed and is being provided by this Government.”

The funding is aimed at the improvement of water quality in existing group water schemes and the upgrading and water conservation works in group water scheme distribution networks.  It will support new schemes to enable rural households to have a supply of good quality piped water for the first time. Funding is also being provided towards group sewerage schemes.  The Rural Water Programme is made up of six different measures and funding being announced today is broken down across a series of initiatives.