24 September 1997
By Tom Kelly
Castlebar has been chosen by the Department of the Environment as a location for a regional training centre for local authority staff employed in water services.
An investment of &163;1m. is to be made byMayo County Council in providing the development, one of only five in the country, at Swimming Pool Road in the town.
The proposal involves the construction of two separate buildings as well as the partial refurbishment of the existing machinery yard.
The main building will consist of a two-storey block adjacent to the existing Aras an Chontae. It will accommodate a staff of 15 and will incorporate a lecture hall and demonstration laboratory. The second building, which will house the outdoor training unit, will be established on the perimeter of the machinery yard and will involve the replacement of some existing store buildings.
Mr. Des Mahon, county manager, said the council would be applying to Castlebar Urban Council for planning permission for the development within the next number of weeks. Development work on the project would get underway as soon as the go-ahead was given.
He said: "It is important that water supply and waste water schemes, in which the State is currently investing over £100m annually, are maintained by staff trained to the highest standard. The work of the Water Services National Training Group is dedicated to the provision of the most modern training for local authority staff. The integrated training centre network, of which Castlebar will be an important part, will help to develop water services training to the highest standards."
The provision of the new buildings is also designed to help relieve chronic overcrowding within the council's existing departments.
