Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 20 Jun 2002

Vol. 553 No. 4

Written Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.

John McGuinness

Question:

140 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will review his Department's regulations governing the grants for improvements in an individual water supply to enable householders whose water supply is contaminated to apply for a grant within the stated seven year period; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a considerable number of people are affected by this regulation and that there is a need to update the scheme. [14285/02]

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

It is a qualifying condition under this scheme that the house concerned was not constructed, or that a grant has not been paid for the provision or improvement of a water supply to the house, within the preceding seven years. The eligibility period was reduced from ten years in 2000 in accordance with a recommendation of the national rural water monitoring committee. I have no proposals to further amend the terms of this scheme which are intended to optimise the distribution of the available funding.