Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 October 2012
453. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent, if any, to which he will be in a position to support the funding of local group water or sewerage schemes by the various local authorities throughout the country on a county bases in the forthcoming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46528/12]
View answerMy Department provides funding towards group water and group sewerage schemes by way of annual block grant allocations to local authorities under the Department’s Rural Water Programme. Responsibility for the administration of this programme has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. The selection and approval of individual group scheme proposals for funding and advancement under the programme, within the overall priorities set by my Department and subject to the block grant allocation provided, is therefore a matter for the water services authorities.
Decisions on the funding to be provided under the programme in 2013 will be made as early as possible in the New Year after taking into account needs outlined by the local authorities and the available Exchequer resources. Group water schemes may also qualify for a subsidy towards the operational costs of supplying domestic water in respect of each house connected to the scheme. Payments are recouped to local authorities, who are responsible for administering this subsidy scheme, by my Department as demand arises rather than on the basis of block grant allocations.
