Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:40 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will give details of the funding and supports to be put in place for group water schemes. [5912/98]
Written Answers - Water and Sewerage Schemes.
My Department's estimates for 1998 include provisions totalling £18.3 million in respect of the scheme of capital grants for the upgrading and provision of group water schemes, the take over by local authorities of existing schemes, the payment of subsidy towards the operational cost of group schemes and other measures related to the group scheme sector. Capital allocations will be made shortly to individual local authorities.
On 21 February I announced an important initiative to give practical effect to the principle of partnership with the voluntary group sector in the determination and implementation of policy on rural water supply and to pursue a planned approach to investment and ensure best practice in all aspects of the management and operation of rural water schemes.
The main elements of the package announced are: each county will draw up a strategic rural water plan which will identify key needs, prioritise investment and maximise the impact of different financial measures available; the plan will embrace public and group supplies and set down a strategy for delivering water supplies efficiently and effectively; a National Rural Water Monitoring Committee representing the group scheme sector, local authorities and the Department, and other rural interests. The committee will monitor and advise on the development and implementation of policy on the rural water programme and assist in the development of a model strategic rural water plan; local committees at county level are to be established which will provide a forum for consultation on the inplementation of the programme locally; these committees will advise on the preparation of the county strategic rural water plans and on the operation of the devolved programme locally; county liaison officers will be appointed by each county council to deal with day to day issues in the implementation of the devolved programme; training — The Water Services National Training Group, who currently provide training services for water personnel in local authorities, will develop modern training programmes suited to the specific needs of the group scheme sector, and financial support — a substantial financial contribution will be made to an educational and developmental programme for the group sector and will immediately hold detailed discussions with the federation on the resourcing and implementation of such a programme.