Vol. 481 No. 4
185 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason grants for the provision of a water supply are restricted to the proprietors of houses over ten years old; and if this restriction can be reviewed, particularly for applicants who did not qualify for a new house grant. [16447/97]
The terms and conditions of this grant scheme were drawn up and put in place by my predecessor. The objective of the grant scheme is to assist householders without access to a public or group water supply to provide a satisfactory individual supply. The ten year restriction referred to reflects the fact that planning approval for the construction of new houses is contingent on the prior availability of a satisfactory water supply and grant assistance is generally targeted at circumstances where water supply deficiencies are likely to be most acute. I have no proposals to review the eligibility criteria at this time.
