Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 January 2018
649. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if funding will be provided for new group water schemes (details supplied) connected to a scheme from a private source; the timeframe for commencement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4609/18]
View answerI understand from Donegal County Council that the group water schemes (GWS) referred to are proposed extensions to the existing Meenabool/ Dunlewey GWS.
My Department’s Multi-annual Rural Water Programme for 2016-2018 includes a measure for the funding of new GWS, which includes extensions to existing schemes. This is addressed through Measure 3 of the programme.
In January 2016 my Department invited local authorities to submit bids under the programme. The proposed extension schemes were not included by the Council in its bid under Measure 3 of the programme; however, two bids were made for the Meenabool / Dunlewey scheme under other block grant based measures not related to extensions.
Following examination of all local authorities’ proposals under Measure 3 by an Expert Panel convened for this purpose, schemes were recommended by the Panel for funding in each of the three years of the multi-annual programme (2016-2018). My Department accepted the recommendations of the Panel in full. Accordingly, the approvals that were announced in August 2016 identified schemes under Measure 3 for each of the three years of the programme.
My Department has received a letter from the Council dated 12 January 2018 seeking funding for the proposed schemes. Given that the multi-annual programme has already identified schemes under Measure 3 for each of the three years of the programme, further schemes cannot be added at this point in time. However, there will be scope to consider the schemes in the context of the next multi-annual programme, which is to commence in 2019.
