Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 16 Oct 1996

Vol. 470 No. 2

Written Answers. - Private Group Water Schemes.

Séamus Hughes

Question:

114 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for the Environment the number of private group water schemes which are sourced from a public water supply, such as that supplied by a local authority; and the approximate number of subscribers who avail of a water supply from these private schemes. [18768/96]

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Howlin)

It is estimated that some 5,485 group water schemes, about 60 per cent of them sourced from public water supply systems, have been constructed or are under construction since the programme was introduced over 30 years ago.

Ongoing rationalisation and amalgamation of schemes, including integration into regional water supply network, has resulted in fewer schemes continuing to operate as independent, privately-run group schemes. In addition, individual schemes will have taken on new members since their construction. Information on the number of households now supplied from publicly sourced group water schemes, is not, therefore, available in my Department.