asked the Minister for the Environment in view of the serious financial situation in which many group water schemes find themselves due to increasing ESB and maintenance costs allied to the low rate of acceptance of schemes in some areas, if he will make funds available to ensure the continuance of such schemes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Water and Sewerage.
14.
There are substantial grants available from my Department towards the capital cost of providing group water schemes but it is the responsibility of group participants, as owners of their schemes, to meet the full costs of operating and maintaining them.
While I agree substantial grants are available, is the Minister aware that at present many schemes are in serious financial difficulties? The only hope for the survival of those schemes is a supplementary payment by the Minister so that the local authorities could take over those schemes.
As I said, the capital cost of the scheme is the only funds available to me. I cannot make funds available for the maintenance or repair of schemes. If the Deputy says the capital cost of the scheme is inadequate, I am prepared to look at the problem.
While I agree that the allocation can be as high as 80 per cent, in many areas where there is a very poor take-up, the schemes are not viable. Many of those schemes were drawn up with the assistance of the Department's inspectors. These people are now unable to meet their commitments——
The Deputy gives the impression that the capital available to these schemes is inadequate because of the high cost.
Yes, in some instances.
All my Department can make available are capital funds. If the Deputy is suggesting that the capital is inadequate, I will look at the situation.
Perhaps the Minister will look at certain cases.
Allowing for the difficult times we are going through and the difficulties confronting the committees who are working so hard to get these group schemes off the ground, would the Minister agree that it may be necessary to take another look at the group water schemes taking those difficulties into account?
I have had a review carried out so that there would be a speeding up of the transfer of moneys to them.
It has had the opposite effect.
No, it has had a very beneficial effect. I can only accept what the Deputy is saying but I have indicated that where there is a problem about the capital cost and my inspectors are made aware of it, consideration may be given to it, and I say "may".
The figures available to the Minister indicate that the whole system of group water schemes is grinding to a halt and something fundamental needs to be done to provide an added incentive. Obviously the easy schemes have been done and the awkward schemes are left and need extra assistance from the State.
I agree with the Deputy when he says the group water schemes are slowing down, but this is because there has been a very vigorous campaign to provide group water schemes throughout the country and considerable moneys have been made available by my Department, particularly over the past few years, to proceed with these schemes. Naturally there comes a point when there are only pockets which need to be attended to and to that extent I agree with the Deputy. The money required for the remaining schemes will not continue to be available at the same high level simply because we got on with those schemes.
(Interruptions.)
In view of the pockets left, would the Minister inform the House if he has any proposals to extend the FEOGA grant aid past 31 June 1985 when it is due to be discontinued so that the remaining pockets can be completed, particularly in the west?
I have no proposals.
15.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will approve the preliminary report for a proposed sewerage scheme for Allenwood, County Kildare, which was submitted to his Department on 22 June 1984; and if he will do everything possible to expedite this particular work.
The necessary technical drawings which form part of the preliminary report for the proposed Allenwood sewerage scheme, County Kildare, were recently received by my Department and are under technical examination at present. A decision regarding the report will issue to the local authority as soon as possible.
Is the Minister aware that because of the high water table in the Allenwood area local authority houses have never been built there and young married people have been forced to leave the area to live elsewhere? Does he not feel that since this proposal now before him gives the first hope of houses being built there, it merits a high priority? Will he give an assurance that he will get this scheme under way as quickly as possible?
I thought I had given that assurance to the Deputy.