“It is absolutely vital that the Department of the Environment does not raise any further issues with Roscommon County Council which could delay the €12 million contract approved to tackle serious water issues in the county”.

This was stated by Independent MEP Marian Harkin who, while welcoming the Minister’s approval of the contract, warned that the Department of the Environment’s record in the clearance and implementation of projects was abysmal.

She said: “It is to be hoped that the approval by the Minster of these vital works will mean that there will be no interference by the Department of the Environment in Roscommon County Council’s urgent implementation of the necessary works and that the people of Roscommon will within the shortest possible period of time have confidence in the status of publicly supplied water throughout the county.

“I am pleased that the Minister has responded to urgent calls from community groups and politicians, such as myself, to fund the necessary schemes.  It now remains to be seen whether sufficient funds have been allocated for all necessary schemes and that they will be permitted to commence immediately”, Marian Harkin MEP concluded.