Junior Mayor programme visits Athlone Main Drainage Scheme site

Students from two local secondary schools participating in the Junior Mayor programme visited the focal site of the Athlone Main Drainage scheme where they received an in-depth presentation from Uisce Éireann representatives.

In conjunction with Town Mayor, Cllr Frankie Keena, the Junior Mayor programme, in which a number of local schools are participating, offers students a voice on environmental and political matters.

Students were welcomed on site by Uisce Eireann’s Project Communications Advisor, Tara Mulvaney and resident engineer Tom Curran, both of whom provided background information on the project and the positive impact it will have on the environment and future growth of Athlone.

The Uisce Éireann representatives shared valuable insights into the wide range of professions involved in delivering a major infrastructure project of this scale.

"It was a great opportunity to showcase the project to the next generation who will benefit from it for years to come," Ms Mulvaney said.

Cllr Keena stated that the €114 million project is one of the most significant projects that Uisce Éireann has carried out to date.

"The mammoth investment involves the construction of new pumping stations at Golden Island and Coosan West, and almost three kilometres of new underground sewer pipes.

"When complete later this year it will transform Athlone by reducing the risk of sewer flooding in the town addressing non-compliant sewer overflows into the River Shannon as well as increasing the capacity of the sewer network enabling future population growth.

"We are so fortunate in Athlone that Uisce Eireann is delivering this massive engineering project in the town, the benefits of which will boost the local environment and will future proof Athlone for any major residential and industrial growth," Cllr Keena said.

The Town Mayor lauded the impact of the Junior Mayor programme within the local school settings.

"One of the main reasons why I started the Junior Mayor Initiative was to give students an opportunity to visit industry and this visit has fulfilled my goal," Cllr Keena said.