Noel Dempsey
Question:196 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for the Environment if his Department has completed its report on group water schemes; and, if so, the conclusions, if any, reached. [7951/97]
Written Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.
Noel Dempsey
Question:198 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for the Environment the capital costs involved in fully upgrading privately sourced group water schemes to EU standards. [7953/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 198 together.
The Government has approved my proposals for the payment of an annual subsidy to group schemes towards the operating costs of providing domestic water supplies, up to £75 per house in the case of houses connected to privately sourced schemes and up to £35 per house in the case of publicly sourced schemes, and a new scheme of capital grants in respect of the provision, or the upgrading of, water supplies to households not connected to public or group supplies. Details of these measures, which are to be implemented within the context of integrated strategic plans for rural water supplies, will be notified to local authorities as soon as possible.
Pending the undertaking by local authorities of extensive surveys of existing schemes, it is not possible to make a reliable estimate of the overall cost of upgrading all quality-deficient privately-sourced group schemes.
Rory O'Hanlon
Question:197 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for the Environment the date on which responsibility for small sewerage schemes was transferred to local authorities; if they are now in a position to process applications for such schemes; if not, if his Department will continue to process such applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7952/97]
On 21 January 1997 I announced, inter alia, that I would be devolving to local authorities full responsibility for the administration of the small water and sewerage schemes programme, i.e. schemes with an all-in estimated cost of less than £250,000. A circular letter is being issued to the relevant local authorities giving details of the new devolved arrangements and notifying the capital allocations for 1997. It will now be a matter for the local authorities to consider individual schemes in the context of these arrangements and allocations.
Cecilia Keaveney
Question:199 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment the current position of a small sewerage scheme for Malin, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7955/97]
A revised preliminary report is in my Department. However, given the high level of commitments under the water and sewerage schemes programme, I cannot say when it may be possible to advance this proposal.