Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Oct 1996

Vol. 469 No. 6

Written Answers. - County Galway Group Water Schemes.

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

45 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment whether he intends seeking funds under some other Community financial instrument, such as the Regional Development Fund, for the Connemara environmental project, in view of the opinion expressed by the European Commission on 16 September 1996, that it cannot give an undertaking to support the KnockInverin water project at this time and in view of the urgency that water should be provided in this area immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17893/96]

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Howlin)

Cohesion Fund assistance has been sought for the Connemara environmental scheme. No decision has been made on this scheme by the European Commission. Progress on the overall scheme, stage I of which is estimated to cost over £8 million, is dependent on approval by the Commission of the Cohesion application. The only other possible source of EU funding for the scheme would be the European Regional Development Fund, but given the number of schemes already approved for funding from this source, it does not offer a realistic alternative source of funding for additional schemes at this stage.

The distribution system for the KnockInverin scheme is currently being upgraded with the assistance of group water scheme grants of up to £226,782 from my Department. Further work on the group scheme is dependent on progress being made on the Spiddal-Rossaveal water supply scheme, which is one of the projects included in stage I of the Connemara environmental scheme.