asked the Minister for the Environment whether his Department will consider co-operative sewerage schemes as a means of providing relief for the villages of rural Ireland especially those which have a dependance on tourism; if so, whether he will consider pilot schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Co-operative Sewerage Schemes.
350.
Grants are already available which cover up to two-thirds of the cost of construction of sewerage schemes undertaken by groups of persons on a co-operative basis subject to a limit of £250 per house. While the design, construction and operation of sewerage schemes tends to be more complex than that of group water schemes some 90 group sewerage schemes have been completed with the aid of these grants.
Local authorities may also of course carry out village sewerage schemes as public schemes funded by loans from the Local Loans Fund and assisted by subsidy from my Department's Vote towards the cost of annual loan charges.