asked the Minister for Local Government what assistance his Department make available to persons excluded from group or regional water schemes who are living on the fringe of such schemes and are not allowed to participate in them.
Written Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.
74.
My Department may pay a grant of up to £50 to a person installing a piped water supply in a house which is not served by a group or regional scheme.
75.
asked the Minister for Local Government the present position regarding the proposed group water scheme at Caherlistrane, County Galway.
Survey sheets for a revised proposal to serve 185 houses in this area were recently received in my Department. The inspector called to the promoter in the week ended 1st December, 1972. A complete survey of the area is in progress with a view to including as many houses as possible in the scheme. Until this information is available no further progress is possible as the total daily water requirements of the group must be assessed before deciding on a source of supply.
76.
asked the Minister for Local Government if, in view of the desire of all rural dwellers to have an adequate water supply, he will increase the grants for group water supply schemes.
77.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will consider paying supplementary grants to group water schemes so that the contribution by group members will not exceed £75.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 77 together.
The approval of the Government to a substantial increase in the maximum State and supplementary grants payable for the provision of group water supply schemes was announced by me on 21st January, 1972. The revised grants structure applies to schemes where work commenced on or after 1st February, 1972, and provides for combined State and local authority grants totalling £200 or two-thirds of the cost per house, whichever is the less. I do not propose to increase these grants further at this stage.
78.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the large number of proposals for group water schemes in County Galway and the long delay in the preparation of schemes; and if he will appoint the necessary personnel so that all the proposals on hand may be completed within a reasonable time.
I am aware of the large number of proposals for group water schemes in County Galway and elsewhere throughout the country. Many of these schemes cater for large numbers of houses with the result that the detailed examination of sources, preparation of plans, et cetera, must take time. I am not aware, however, of any avoidable delay in dealing with the proposals. The distribution of work as between the inspectors engaged on group water supply schemes is regularly reviewed by my Department to ensure that inspectors are assigned to areas in which there is activity under the schemes. In general, an inspector can deal with two counties. In County Galway, however, two inspectors have been employed full-time on this work for nearly a year past.
79.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he intends to sanction the extension of the Urlingford and Johnstown water supply scheme to give a water service to a group of houses in the Grange-fertagh area, County Kilkenny.
The local authority were asked to reconsider the technical feasibility of this proposal.
80.
asked the Minister for Local Government when application was received in his Department from Roscommon County Council, for the sanction of a group water scheme at Derrynargon, Boyle, County Roscommon; and if the scheme has been sanctioned.
An application form relating to this scheme was received in my Department from Roscommon County Council on 22nd December, 1970. A design for the scheme was submitted in March, 1972, and was approved by the Department and the county council last July, subject to the use of increased pipe sizes to facilitate further group development in the area. Nine grants, totalling £585 were allocated to the group on 7th December, 1972, and work on the scheme may commence at any time.
81.
asked the Minister for Local Government if sanction has been given to proceed with the sewerage scheme at Dromahair, County Leitrim.
This scheme has been fully approved by me.