The Minister for the Environment, Dick Roche, has said the Government will this year invest €125m in improving quality in group water schemes across the country.
Around one third of all rural households receive their water supply from group water schemes and this year's allocation is 45% above what was announced in 2004.
Mayo is to receive more than €17m, Galway €14m, Cavan €13m, Clare €10m and Sligo €7m.
The Government has been investing heavily in upgrading water quality in recent years because the European Commission instigated legal action against Ireland in the European Court of Justice in 2002.
Under an Action Plan, there will be new treatment plants for some 240 schemes, improved disinfection equipment for 194 schemes and connections to local authority public water supply networks for a further 190 groups.
The minister made the announcement in Castlebar in Co Mayo where he opened a new Regional Training Centre for local authority roads and water services personnel and group water scheme managers from the Connacht region.
