Minister for the Environment Dick Roche visited Sligo to pay tribute to the county’s excellent rural water programme. Minister Roche arrived in Sligo to officially open the E12 million project consisting of 11 new water treatment plants. These plants will supply treated water to over 2000 rural families throughout County Sligo.
Apart from the local communities, the official opening was also attended by the Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Cllr Jim McGarry, Councillors, and officials from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, representatives from the National Federation of Group Water Schemes, the County Sligo Rural Monitoring Committee, the contractors and also the group scheme committees.
Speaking at the launch, Mr Roche acknowledged the great work done by Sligo County Council, the National Federation of Group Water Schemes and the group schemes themselves in bringing this project to fruition. He went on to say ‘it is a showcase for what can be achieved through genuine partnership and co-operation and a beacon for others to follow. It is also a shining example of good design, cost effective construction and care and concern for sensitive and attractive landscapes’.
The participating group water schemes in the DBO project were: