Infrastructure Policy
The Kerry County Council Development Plan incorporates a settlement strategy which envisages a settlement hierarchy of approximately 90 towns, villages and development nodes. The plan envisages that an improved infrastructure would be provided in these centres to facilitate development and to make villages, in particular, attractive settlements in which to live.
In 2003 the DEHLG requested that Kerry County Council prepare an Assessment of Needs for Water Services Investment which would identify the medium term requirements of the Kerry Local Authorities. This was done and an Assessment of Needs was adopted by the members of Kerry County Council in November 2003. An updated Assessment was requested to be prepared in 2006 and this was also completed and used by the DEHLG for project selection in the Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009, which is a three year rolling programme of investment in infrastructure provision, mainly funded by DEHLG.
The assessment of the strategic medium to long term needs of the County must take account of all relevant National and EU environmental, public health and water quality statutory requirements, as well as the provisions of various existing studies, such as the National Water Study, National Urban Wastewater Study and Rural Water Strategies. The assessment is designed to;
• meet the development needs identified in the County Development Plan.
• address deficiencies in the existing infrastructure.
• protect public health and the environment.
Two of the projects identified in the Assessment of Needs and included in the Water Services Investment Programme are County Strategic Studies to identify projects for the future development of the drinking water supply infrastructure and sewerage infrastructure of the County. The 2007 Water Services Act requires the Local Authority to prepare a Water Services Strategic Plan. It is likely that work on the preparation of this Strategic Plan will commence during 2009 and further guidance on the programme for delivery of this plan is expected to be issued by the DEHLG.
Contact Information
Water Services Department.
Rathass,Tralee,
Co.Kerry.
Tel: 066-7183503.
Fax: 066-7181639
Email: WaterServices@kerrycoco.ie
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