Vol. 487 No. 5
111 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if grant aid for the necessary improvement of water supply to an individual house is payable where there is a high iron content in the existing water supply; if there is a uniform approach by each local authority to approving grant aid in these circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4433/98]
Grants are available from the local authority for the improvement of a domestic water supply to a house where the existing supply is, in the opinion of the local authority, seriously deficient. Water supplies with naturally occurring chemical exceedances which are of no concern to public health are not normally categorised as seriously deficient. However in cases where extreme concentrations of chemicals are present, local authorities may approve grants for the provision of suitable treatment facilities. Achieving uniformity of implementation is an objective of my Department's ongoing monitoring of the operation of the scheme.
