Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 November 2013
476. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will list all the applications his Department has received from Kildare County Council for small sewage-waste water treatment systems in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50601/13]
View answerResponsibility for the administration of the Rural Water Programme, which includes group sewerage schemes and small public schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. In December 2012, I announced an increase in the grant for group sewerage schemes to €6,500 per house or 75% of the cost of the scheme, whichever is the lesser. The previous rate of grant available was €2,031.58 per house or 75% of the cost, whichever was the lesser.
I propose, in the first instance, to carry out a number of pilot schemes based on the increased grant level. My Department asked local authorities to include in their requests for funding under the 2013 Rural Water Programme proposals for pilot group sewerage schemes which might be viable based on the increased grant. Proposals for two group sewerage schemes, at Boston Cottages and Kilmacredock, were received from Kildare County Council. Following an examination of the proposals received, with particular regard to the environmental justification provided and the estimated costs, I have approved grant assistance towards pilot schemes, including Boston Cottages, in nine different counties.
With regard to small public schemes, as responsibility for the Rural Water Programme is devolved, the selection and approval of individual scheme proposals for advancement and funding, within the overall priorities set out by my Department and subject to the block grant allocations provided, is a matter for water services authorities. Information in this regard would, therefore, be available from Kildare County Council.
Separately, an application for funding for waste water treatment works under the Public Safety Initiative for unfinished housing developments was received from Kildare County Council, in respect of Millbrook Housing Estate, Timolin, Moone, Co Kildare. The amount requested was €73,421, but the application was declined as it was deemed not to fall within the remit of the initiative.
