EIB lending €200m for Irish water projects
The European Investment Bank is providing a €200m loan to Ireland’s Water Service Investment Programme (WSIP) to support 23 water investment projects across Ireland.
The projects include provision of new water mains, water and wastewater treatment facilities and reservoirs, as well as measures to improve water conservation.
- The responsibility for water services delivery is moving from local authorities to a new public utility.
- Global demand for water is due to rise by 40pc in just 20 years.
- Investment in the Irish water infrastructure is intended to significantly enhance water conservation measures, improve drinking water quality and reduce risks of pollution.
The water investment initiative includes:
- Replacement of over 300km of old water mains in Dublin City, South Tipperary, Galway and Limerick.
- Drinking water supply through two new reservoirs in Kerry and North Tipperary.
- Six new wastewater treatment plants are planned for Kildare, North Tipperary, Kerry, Galway and Roscommon.
- Four of the projects relate to water conservation with the primary objective being to reduce water loss in the distribution networks.
- Seven of the projects relate to improvements in water supply infrastructure.
- 12 projects relate to the improvement of wastewater infrastructure.
The European Investment Bank will provide a 25 year loan. As is the case for all EIB Irish sovereign lending the loan is signed with National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) acting on behalf of the Irish state. A first tranche of €100m will support immediate investment and a second tranche will follow as the investment programme progresses.
The table below sets out details of the individual water projects.
- Cork County Council: Bandon Sewerage scheme – network
- Cork County Council: Clonakilty Sewerage scheme – WWTP upgrade
- Cork County Council: Youghal Sewerage Scheme – WWTP and networks
- Dublin City: Dublin Region Watermains rehabilitation project
- Dublin City: Ringsend – Upgrade of Waste Water Treatment Plant in three phases, including improved performance of current plant, expansion of capacity and long sea outfall
- Fingal County Council: Swords Upgrade of Waste Water Treatment Plant in Swords
- Galway County Council: Claregalway and Milltown SS – WWTP and network
- Galway County Council: Clifden SS – WWTP and network
- Galway County Council: Costello water supply –treatment plant and networks
- Galway County Council: Galway County Water Conservation – mains rehabilitation contracts (suite thereof)
- Kerry County Council: Kerry Central Regional Water Supply Scheme – WTP and reservoir
- Kildare: Ballymore Eustace Improved collection and treatment of sewerage in Ballymore Eustace (2 contracts)
- Kildare: Barrow Abstraction Scheme involves the construction of a new water treatment plant at Srowland near Athy, which is currently under construction, including the Srowland to Ardscull rising mains.
- Limerick County Council: Kilmallock Waste Water Treatment Plant
- Limerick County Council: Limerick countywide water conservation
- Limerick County Council: Mungret Sewerage Scheme – network contract
- Limerick County Council: Patrickswell Sewerage Scheme – network contract
- Longford County Council: Longford Central Regional Water Supply – Civil Works
- Longford County Council: Longford Towns and Villages Sewerage Scheme – Wastewater Treatment Plants
- North Tipperary County Council: Thurles WTP and networks
- Roscommon County Council: Boyle/Ardcarne Regional Water Supply Scheme
- Roscommon County Council: North East Roscommon and Ballyleague Regional Water Supply Schemes WTP
- South Tipperary: Fethard Water conservation – mains rehabilitation suite of contracts on Fethard WSS