asked the Minister for the Environment the arrangements, if any, being made to pay the normal grants to Mr. P. Leonard and the other trustees of the Culmore group water scheme, Kilkelly, County Mayo; and when payment will be made.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mayo Water Scheme.
23.
The question of the grant payments already made for this scheme is being re-examined in my Department.
The scheme has been treated as an amalgamation of two proposals serving eight houses at Kilmore and eight houses at Culmore. In 1981, my Department informed the people concerned that it was proposed to treat the two proposals as one scheme and grants have been allocated and paid on that basis. I understand that questions have arisen regarding the grant payments and that an application was received in my Department some months ago seeking separate grant payments in respect of one section as a separate scheme. I am having an urgent examination of the matter carried out so far as my Department is concerned and I will inform the Deputy as early as possible of the outcome of this examination.
I am delighted to hear that this matter is being examined urgently because the problem first came to light early in the spring. Is the Minister aware that there are eight houses incorported in this scheme, that the owners have already provided water for their houses but have not got any grant? Contractors who supplied them with materials are now breathing down their necks for money and I ask him to make the grants available as soon as possible. I also want to know if those people could be considered for the new grant at the current rate because it was in operation months before they began work on their scheme?
We will look into this matter but grants have been paid. However, as soon as I have a report I will let the Deputy have the information.
I am pleased with the Minister's reply but I would like to be assured that he is aware of the fact that the eight people to whom I referred have not got any grants and they did not want to begin work until a year after the total grants had been paid to the first group who benefited from the grant. I hope that will be taken into account and that these people will not be deprived of grants at the current rate.
That will be taken into account in the examination but I want to get a full picture first.