Ballyduff Upper Group Water Scheme, a small existing three house scheme located on the Cork – Waterford border, was included by Cork County Council in its 2016 bids under Measure 3 of the Multi-Annual Programme Rural Water 2016 – 2018. This measure supports social and economic development in rural towns and villages and their hinterlands by providing new group water schemes where public water supply schemes or private wells are not an option.
An Expert Panel was convened by my Department to examine the 2016 bids from local authorities for projects under a number of the programme’s measures, including Measure 3, and to make recommendations to the Department on funding. However, following examination of the bids under this measure by the Panel, the Ballyduff Group Water Scheme was not recommended for funding under the programme. My Department accepted the recommendations of the Panel in full in making final overall funding allocations in 2016 to local authorities.
A copy of the Expert Panel's report and consideration of all proposals under the Programme for 2016 for are available on my Department’s website at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/water/water-services/rural-water-programme/group-water-schemes-and-rural-water-issues.
In May 2017, my Department invited local authorities to submit bids for schemes for the period 2017-2018 for certain measures including under Measure 1 which is aimed at improving water quality in existing group water schemes to achieve compliance with the parameters of the Drinking Water Regulations, 2014. While it is a matter for Cork County Council to consider which schemes to include in its bids, the Council has not included Ballyduff Upper Group Water Scheme.