Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2009
462 Deputy Jimmy Deenihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on raising the level of funding for the group sewerage schemes per household to the same level as group water schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4492/09]
View answerMy Department has funded a pilot programme, proposed by the National Rural Water Monitoring Committee, to test a range of new, small-scale waste water collection and treatment systems under Irish conditions. The objective of the pilot programme is to evaluate new approaches to meeting the wastewater collection and treatment needs of rural communities and to examine the potential role for group sewerage schemes in extending collection systems to households outside the catchment of new or existing public sewerage networks. The performance of new infrastructure provided under the pilot programme is being monitored and evaluated. The National Rural Water Services Committee has been asked to report to me on the results as they become available. The grants for group sewerage schemes will be reviewed in light of the outcome.
463 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress on an issue (details supplied) between his Department and a local authority since his meeting in November 2008. [4504/09]
View answerRecoupments totalling €3.4 million have since been issued to Mayo County Council under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-09. Further payments to the Council are being processed. My Department will continue to process all valid claims from the council as speedily as possible.
