asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will make grants available for more costly group water schemes in view of the fact that these schemes mostly serve the agricultural community.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Group Water Schemes.
11.
Grant-aid from my Department is already available if the average cost of the scheme per serviced premises exceeds the cost covered by the Department of Local Government and local authority grants and provided farm water supply is concerned.
Has the Minister anything to add in respect of any proposals being considered by the EEC for grants to group water schemes in western farm areas?
That is a separate question. I could not give an accurate reply to it.
This question deals with extra grants for more expensive group water schemes. It would be of interest if the Minister coupled with his reply any proposals which have been made, if they have been made, or any suggestions that his Government have put in regard to proposals to supplement from EEC funds the finance for group water schemes for less well-off areas.
The Deputy is enlarging the scope of the question.
The Department of Local Government have already applied for FEOGA grants for this purpose
Can the Minister tell us anything about that?
I am afraid I cannot.
May I take it that, if a group decide to install water in a farmyard, the Minister's grant will be available and that this would be the ordinary grant that would be available for the installation of water in the farmyard?
That is correct.
Would the Minister make something extra available by way of grant in view of the fact that some of those schemes can be very costly and that they serve the farming community?
Where the cost exceeds the normal provision for these items, two-thirds of the extra cost is met by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries at present.