Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 July 2004
127 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding group water schemes that are amalgamating under the new initiative as proposed by his Department in regard to capital funding and maintenance and refurbishment costings of schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19842/04]
View answer128 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding group water schemes as operated by a voluntary group; the effects that new proposals will have on such groups in regard to amalgamation; if the trustees will continue to be trustees of the scheme; the role the trustee board will play in the new proposals; the way in which funding or membership fees will be collected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19843/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 128 together.
Design, build, operate, DBO, procurement, together with the bundling of numbers of schemes under a single contract, is the established procedure for the procurement of water treatment and disinfection equipment for privately sourced group water schemes. Under this process the selected contractor operates and maintains the new equipment under a 20 years contract with each of the participating groups.
Subject to a maximum cost of €7,618 per house, grants of up to 100% of the cost of water treatment and disinfection equipment and 85% of related civil works — including buildings, reservoirs, water conservation and network renewal — are available. An annual subsidy of up to €196.81 per house is payable towards the operation and maintenance costs of schemes participating in DBO contracts.
Bundled DBO contracts do not affect general management of group water schemes' affairs, including the setting and collection of charges or fees. Participating group schemes retain their independent status and operate as separate entities unless two or more schemes decide to amalgamate by way of a private arrangement.
To improve the management structure of group schemes and to facilitate long-term operational contracts, the National Federation of Group Water Schemes, the representative body for the group scheme sector, recommends that all groups participating in DBO contracts should be incorporated as registered co-operatives. Where a group scheme is restructured from trust to co-operative, the board of directors assumes the duties and responsibilities formerly discharged by the trustees.
129 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his Department has received an application from Kerry County Council for a new sewerage system for Miltown, County Kerry; if so, when this application will be considered and decided upon; if funding is available for this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19900/04]
View answerI have approved the preparation of preliminary assessments by Kerry County Council of the need for improved sewerage systems in a number of villages, including Miltown, under my Department's water services investment programme 2004-2006. On receipt of the assessments in my Department, further consideration will be given to the need for infrastructural improvements in the locations concerned.
