'Badly needed investment': Tipperary TD welcomes additional waterworks funding
Tipperary South TD Mattie McGrath praised the announcement
Independent Tipperary South TD Mattie McGrath has welcomed the commencement of major water infrastructure works in Ballypatrick and surrounding areas, describing the project as a “long overdue step” toward addressing persistent water supply issues that have particularly impacted Ballinaraha.
The upgrade, being delivered under Uisce Éireann’s National Leakage Reduction Programme, will see over 5.6km of ageing water mains replaced, stretching from Ballypatrick village to Ballydine.
“This is a significant and badly needed investment for South Tipperary,” said Deputy McGrath.
“The people of Ballinaraha have been dealing with constant low water pressure and supply interruptions for years. I have raised these issues time and time again with Uisce Éireann and the Minister. It is heartening to see works finally commencing.”
He noted the scale of the upgrade in the wider county context:
“Just 7km of water mains were upgraded across Tipperary in all of 2024. That puts this 5.6km project into perspective. It’s not just a routine job—it’s a major piece of rural infrastructure and a strong acknowledgment of the community’s persistence.”
The works, being carried out by Shareridge, are expected to be completed by autumn 2025, and will strengthen the local network, reduce bursts, and improve overall supply reliability for years to come and there will be a Stop-Go system in place while the works are being carried out.
Deputy McGrath concluded by thanking the local residents for their patience and resilience: “This is a positive step, but it must also be a first step. Ongoing investment is essential to bring the entire South Tipperary network up to a standard that rural communities deserve. There are ongoing difficulties not only in this area but right across the County that must continue to be addressed. For now, I welcome this progress and thank the residents—particularly those in Ballinaraha for their forbearance.
"A stable water supply is a basic right that all homes in this country should be guaranteed but many unfortunately do not have this basic service and have struggled for years. I hope that these works will bring major improvements to the people of Ballinaraha and surrounding areas and I will continue to work on the many other area’s being impacted by low water pressure and unstable supplies across the Constituency,” concluded Deputy McGrath.