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Cllr Marie Murphy who has been actively campaigning for works on the Burncourt Fethard water scheme.

The wait is finally over for the people of South Tipperary, as it was announced this week that Minister Phil Hogan has approved funding of €12.4 million for the Burncourt/Fethard Regional Supply scheme.

Areas affected include Ballyporeen, Burncourt and Clogheen, while people living in 43 houses in Skeheenarinky have been living without a 'boil water' notice in place for the past four years.

Local Fine Gael councillor Marie Murphy told The Avondhu that this is big news for the area, as it means that when the work is done, people in the affected areas will now have drinkable water.

"It's going on so long now that it was raised in the Dail in the late 60's and early 70's. It has been announced on a number of occasions that it would be done, but it has never actually been signed off on by a minister. We have never gotten this far.

"I would hope that the contract will be signed in two weeks, before Christmas and I want to see diggers on site early in the new year and hopefully that will happen," Cllr Murphy said.

Speaking about the impact this will have on people, particularly in Skeheenarinky, Cllr Murphy said that it will transform people's lives for those in the 43 houses who have been living with a boil water notice.

Cllr Murphy also added that while it is great news that the scheme has now been signed off on, she warned that there is still two years work ahead, but this is the light at the end of the tunnel for those affected.

Speaking about the news on a visit to Ballyboy House in Clogheen, Minister Tom Hayes told The Avondhu that the contract has been awarded to a Galway company, called Glan Agua Limited.

He said that this has already gone on far too long, as he said that people have been deprived of their most basic need in an age when water is more essential than electricity.

"Now that funding is confirmed, South Tipperary County Council can proceed to complete the contract formalities with the successful tenderer and work on the contract can start at the earliest possible date," he said.

Minister Hayes has also asked Minister Phil Hogan to exempt all of those currently on a boil water notice from water charges until such time as the problem has been rectified. Minister Hogan is currently considering the request.  

Meanwhile, TD Mattie McGrath has said that while the announcement has been made, if the Government continue to delay the works, there could be a danger that people will suffer more 'intolerable delays' if the work does not begin before Irish Water comes into effect.

“We need this work to commence immediately. More importantly we need the work to have started before the entry of Irish Water on to the scene when the likelihood of further delays and debates about who is responsible for the implementation of the work will be exasperated.

"The need is real and urgent and it needs to be responded too with that in mind. The tendering process is over; the funding has been ring fenced, and that means that all the excuses and half-hearted assurances simply will not cut it anymore,” concluded Deputy McGrath.

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