Responsibility for the administration of the Rural Water Programme, which includes funding for group water schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. The selection, prioritisation and approval of individual scheme proposals for advancement and funding under the programme is, therefore, a matter for the local authorities.
The National Rural Water Services Committee, which has a role in advising me in relation to policy and investment in rural water services, has been considering issues arising for the establishment of new group water schemes, particularly where the costs involved call into question the viability of the scheme. Following a recommendation by the Committee, an increase of €1,000 in the maximum grant per house applying to new group water schemes was announced in April 2014. My Department, therefore, now funds 85% of the cost of such schemes, subject to a maximum grant per house of €7,475, rather than the previous limit of €6,475 per house.
My Department is currently considering, in the context of the 2015 Rural Water Programme, a recommendation from the Committee relating to new group water schemes which it may previously have been possible to consider for CLAR funding. I will reach a decision on this recommendation as soon as possible.
