asked the Minister for the Environment if he has any plans to assist local authorities in the north-eastern region with a contribution towards the cost of groundwater resources investigation; if he will seek EC funds to help eastern regional organisations to carry out this important work on a regional basis as outlined in the North-Eastern Regional Development Organisation report, page 29; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Groundwater Resources Investigation.
61.
There are no specific funds available to my Department towards the cost of such investigations. However, where costs are incurred as part of the preliminary investigations on a specific sanitary services scheme which is approved by my Department, these costs may be included in the capital cost and thus rank for the usual loan and subsidy in due course. At present EC funding arises only where the investigations are part of the cost of an approved sanitary services scheme but the possibility of obtaining funding separately for source investigations will be kept under review.