Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Nov 1999

Vol. 509 No. 6

Written Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Billy Timmins

Question:

414 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the funding allocated by his Department for small sewage and water schemes to Wicklow County Council for each of the years from 1992 to 2000. [21324/99]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

The annual grants allocated to Wicklow County Council since the small schemes sub-programme was introduced in 1994 are as follows:

Year	Amount (£)
1994	131,250
1995	60,000
1996	150,000
1997	225,000
1998	412,250
1999	328,500

John McGuinness

Question:

415 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the status of an application for funding in the name of the Lacken and Rathmoyle water scheme, County Kilkenny; and if he will indicate the funding available from his Department and the EU to provide much needed water schemes to rural Ireland. [21325/99]

John McGuinness

Question:

416 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his Department has received an application for funding from the Castlewarren group water scheme committee, County Kilkenny; if so, the progress, if any, being made; and if he will expedite the application. [21326/99]

Liam Aylward

Question:

425 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the progress being made towards the completion of a group water scheme (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [21470/99]

Liam Aylward

Question:

426 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the progress being made towards the completion of a group water scheme (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [21471/99]

Phil Hogan

Question:

437 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when the necessary finance will be made available for the provision of a group water scheme for Lacken, Rathmoyle, County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21621/99]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 415, 416, 425, 426 and 437 together.

Responsibility for the administration of the rural water programme, including the prioritisation and approval of group water schemes for grant assistance, is a matter for the county councils. In 1999, block grant allocations totalling £14 million were notified to county councils to finance capital grant expenditure on group water scheme upgrading and development, of which £400,000 was allocated to Kilkenny County Council.

In addition to this Exchequer provision, European Regional Development Fund co-financing of around £10 million is being provided under the operational programme for environmental services, 1994-99, for the development of certain large scale group water schemes. All available European Regional Development Fund funding has been committed at this stage. However, if and when additional moneys are approved under the current programme, outstanding applications, including those in respect of the Castlewarren and Lacken-Rathmoyle schemes, will be considered for approval.