Michael Ring
Ceist:82 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment if he will approve a marine survey for a sewerage scheme (details supplied) in County Mayo in the week beginning 21 April 1997. [10868/97]
Written Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.
In October 1995 my Department approved a proposal by Mayo County Council to carry out a survey of the outfall location at Achill Sound. Modified contract documents for the survey are at present being examined in my Department with a view to a decision as soon as possible.
Helen Keogh
Ceist:83 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for the Environment the total grants available in each county for capital works on group water and sewerage schemes in 1997 under the headings of new schemes and schemes currently in development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10910/97]
Helen Keogh
Ceist:84 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for the Environment the subvention which will be available in each county in 1997 under the small public water and sewerage schemes programmes; the local contributions which must be collected in each county in 1997; the sources from which county councils will be obliged to fund local contributions; the plans, if any, which are in place to deal with any shortfall in funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10911/97]
Helen Keogh
Ceist:86 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for the Environment the financial allocation made to each county council to fund the upgrading of public rural water schemes and private rural group water schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10913/97]
Helen Keogh
Ceist:91 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for the Environment the funds, if any, which have been allocated to each county council in relation to the maintenance and upgrading of group water schemes; when these funds will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10918/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 83, 84, 86 and 91 together.
Details of the public water and sewerage schemes to be advanced in 1997 are included in my Department's water and sewerage capital work programme 1997, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library. Block grant allocations under the small public schemes programme and the group water and sewerage grants programme for approved schemes were notified to local authorities on 26 March 1997. Details are given in the following table. In the case of small public schemes, grants may not exceed 75 per cent of the cost. It is a matter for the local authorities to decide appropriate arrangements for meeting the balance of the cost.
As already announced, an annual subsidy of up to £75 and £35 per house towards the operational costs of supplying water for domestic use will be paid to groups with private and public sources, respectively. To assist in the financial management of schemes, interim instalments of £45 and £20 will be paid this year. Full details of the subsidy scheme, together with block grant allocations for 1997 under the new multi-annual programme of works for the upgrading and takeover of group schemes, will be notified to local authorities shortly.
Block Grant Allocations to Local Authorities in 1997
|
Local Authority |
Small public schemes costing less than £250,000 |
Group water and sewerage schemes |
|
£ |
£ |
|
|
Carlow County Council |
195,000 |
4,000 |
|
Cavan County Council |
211,000 |
28,700 |
|
Clare County Council |
255,000 |
177,100 |
|
Cork County Council |
120,800 |
|
|
Cork North County Council |
162,000 |
|
|
Cork South County Council |
162,000 |
|
|
Cork West County Council |
162,000 |
|
|
Donegal County Council |
225,000 |
170,900 |
|
Dublin South County Council |
162,000 |
|
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
162,000 |
|
|
Fingal County Council |
162,000 |
23,900 |
|
Galway County Council |
225,000 |
500,500 |
|
Kerry County Council |
293,000 |
165,000 |
|
Kildare County Council |
225,000 |
145,800 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
195,000 |
58,700 |
|
Laois County Council |
195,000 |
24,700 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
195,000 |
87,600 |
|
Limerick County Council |
225,000 |
136,100 |
|
Longford County Council |
195,000 |
46,200 |
|
Louth County Council |
225,000 |
5,400 |
|
Mayo County Council |
225,000 |
530,500 |
|
Meath County Council |
225,000 |
73,200 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
195,000 |
130,100 |
|
Offaly County Council |
380,000 |
84,800 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
195,000 |
65,000 |
|
Sligo County Council |
195,000 |
101,300 |
|
Tipperary NR County Council |
195,000 |
10,900 |
|
Tipperary SR County Council |
323,000 |
34,900 |
|
Waterford County Council |
195,000 |
42,800 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
195,000 |
148,300 |
|
Wexford County Council |
225,000 |
67,000 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
225,000 |
12,200 |
|
Dublin Corporation |
95,000 |
|
|
Galway Corporation |
65,000 |
|
|
Limerick Corporation |
65,000 |
|
|
Cork Corporation |
95,000 |
|
|
Waterford Corporation |
65,000 |
|
|
6,989,000 |
2,996,400 |
Helen Keogh
Ceist:85 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for the Environment the number of public rural water schemes which are currently operating in each county; the number of private water schemes currently operating in each county; the number of families in each county served by public water schemes; the number of families in each county served by private water schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10912/97]
Some 5,545 group water schemes have been completed since the inception of the programme over 30 years ago; the numbers in each county are given in the following table. Rationalisation and amalgamation of schemes has resulted in fewer schemes continuing to operate as independent group schemes.
The operation of public rural water supply networks is a matter for the local authorities. Information on the number of such schemes is not available in my Department.
Information on the number of housing units served by public and private water supplies is published by the CSO in CENSUS 1991 Volume 10, Housing.
Group Water Schemes Completed
|
Carlow |
40 |
|
Cavan |
93 |
|
Clare |
233 |
|
Cork |
554 |
|
Donegal |
509 |
|
Dublin |
38 |
|
Galway |
499 |
|
Kerry |
256 |
|
Kildare |
132 |
|
Kilkenny |
203 |
|
Laois |
79 |
|
Leitrim |
215 |
|
Limerick |
322 |
|
Longford |
162 |
|
Louth |
93 |
|
Mayo |
452 |
|
Meath |
167 |
|
Monaghan |
44 |
|
Offaly |
73 |
|
Roscommon |
255 |
|
Sligo |
206 |
|
Tipperary NR |
240 |
|
Tipperary SR |
122 |
|
Waterford |
115 |
|
Westmeath |
125 |
|
Wexford |
243 |
|
Wicklow |
75 |
|
Total |
5,545 |
Helen Keogh
Ceist:87 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for the Environment the number of public rural water schemes which meet the required water quality level in each county; the number of private rural water schemes which meet the required water quality level in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10914/97]
The most recent report of the Environmental Protection Agency on drinking water quality in Ireland provides the most comprehensive information available on the quality of public and private water supplies. A copy of the report is available in the Oireachtas Library. I also refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 16, 18, 53, 54 and 138 on 15 April 1997.
Helen Keogh
Ceist:88 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for the Environment the number of public and private water schemes in each county which meet the management performance criteria laid down by his Department; if he will give details of these criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[10915/97]
Helen Keogh
Ceist:89 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for the Environment the accounts recording criteria laid down by his Department for the assessment of public and private water schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10916/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 89 together.
I take it that the questions arise from my recent announcement on the payment of an annual subsidy towards the operational costs of private group water schemes in supplying water for domestic use. Group schemes applying for the subsidy will be required to meet certain standards in relation to the effective management and organisation of schemes and the verification of expenditure.Full details of these requirements will be set out in a document on the terms and conditions of the scheme which is now being finalised in my Department and which will be sent to local authorities shortly. It is not possible at this stage to say how many schemes will meet the requirements.
Helen Keogh
Ceist:90 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for the Environment the systems which are in place for preparing and adopting plans for the upgrading of public and private group water schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10917/97]
It will be a condition of the new subsidy towards the operating costs of group water schemes that the trustees of schemes where the supply is quality-deficient will have to prepare an improvement plan, in agreement with the local authority, with a view to bringing water quality up to standard. The upgrading of group water schemes under the new multi-annual programme for the upgrading and takeover of schemes, with the agreement of the groups concerned, will be planned in the context of strategic five year plans for rural water supplies which will be drawn up by local authorities in partnership with the group scheme sector.Guidelines on the preparation of rural water plans are being drafted in my Department in consultation with local authority managers and will be sent to local authorities as soon as possible.