Ned O'Keeffe
Question:99 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment if he will make the necessary funding available to extend an existing sewerage scheme (details supplied) in County Cork. [11843/97]
Written Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.
Ned O'Keeffe
Question:101 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment if he will make funding available to a group water scheme (details supplied) in County Cork; and his views on whether every household should have an adequate water supply. [11845/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 101 together.
As already announced, responsibility for the administration of the group water and sewerage schemes programme has been devolved to the local authorities, subject to existing commitments on foot of approvals issued by my Department. Where schemes have not yet been approved, such as the Coolagoun and Quarterstown-Gouldshill schemes, it will in future be a matter for the local authorities to decide grant applications. In addition to continuing the scheme of capital grants for new group water and sewerage schemes, and the renewal of existing ones, a comprehensive package of new measures is being introduced to support rural water supplies. This includes a new multi-annual programme of works by local authorities for the upgrading and take-over of group schemes where the trustees so wish, a new subsidy scheme towards the operational costs of group water schemes in supplying domestic water, and a scheme of grants for the provision of new or improved individual water supplies to houses.
Ned O'Keeffe
Question:100 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment if he will make funding urgently available to replace the sewerage system in a village (details supplied) in County Cork in view of the serious public health threat. [11844/97]
As already announced, responsibility for the administration of the small public water and sewerage schemes programme, under which the scheme referred to would be considered, has been devolved to the local authorities, subject to existing commitments on foot of approvals issued by my Department. It will in future be a matter for the local authorities to decide priorities locally. Block grant allocations for small public schemes, costing less than £250,000, were notified to local authorities on 26 March 1997.
Ned O'Keeffe
Question:102 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment if he will agree to meet with a deputation (details supplied) from County Cork. [11846/97]
Contract documents for this scheme have been submitted to my Department but, given the high level of commitments under the water and sewerage programme, I cannot say when it may be possible to approve them. In these circumstances, I do not consider that meeting a deputation at this time would serve any useful purpose.