Vol. 494 No. 4
339 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has satisfied himself that there is adequate staffing in local authorities to administer the grant scheme in relation to household water facilities; if his attention has been drawn to the backlog and delays being experienced by applicants trying to obtain inspections in this regard; and the proposals, if any, he has to resolve the situation. [18282/98]
As part of the financial arrangements underpinning the devolved rural water programme, I provided £1.5 million this year to assist local authorities with the administrative costs under the programme, including the costs of administering the individual grant scheme. My Department recently completed the development of a computer based management information system to assist local authorities in the administration of the devolved programme and a comprehensive training programme is now under way for local authority staff assigned to the rural water programme aimed at ensuring efficient and consistent implementation in all counties.
I am aware of varying degrees of backlog in local authorities in relation to applications for individual and group scheme grants and I have recently emphasised to local authority managers the need to ensure that the rural water programme is implemented to achieve the best possible service to the public.
