Vol. 573 No. 3
714 Mr. J. Breen asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if Clare County Council have applied for funding and approval for the Lackmore group water scheme, Lahinch, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25620/03]
The objective of the CLÁR group water scheme top-up measure is to ensure that water is made available to householders in areas where unit costs are high because of sparse population and difficult ground conditions. The projects are selected by the relevant county councils. Householders pay a contribution of up to €1,143 per house and the county council in question pays the group water scheme capital grant of € 6,476 per house. CLÁR contributes a top-up grant of up to €4,382. Thus, the maximum cost per house is €12,000.
In the case of the Islandbawn-Lackamore group water scheme, the costings are in excess of these provisions arising from the difficult ground conditions.
My Department has consulted the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in relation to this issue and has been advised of potential savings to reduce the overall cost of the scheme. My Department is pursuing the options with Clare County Council.
