Vol. 496 No. 3
319 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the arrangements, if any, in place to pay the subsidy in lieu of water charges to group water schemes; and the measures, if any, being taken to monitor the operation of this system. [22698/98]
Under the devolved rural water programme, county councils are responsible for the administration of a range of measures aimed at improving the quality and reliability of rural water supplies, including the scheme for the payment of subsidy towards the operational cost of group water schemes. All matters relating to the receipt and processing of applications and payment of the subsidy are dealt with by the local authorities in accordance with the overall terms and conditions of the scheme as set out by my Department.
A national rural water monitoring committee has been established by me to advise on policy on rural water supply and to monitor the implementation, by local authorities, of the rural water programme. This committee includes local authority elected members and officials as well as representatives from the National Federation of Group Water Schemes, other rural organisations and officials from my Department.
Local committees are being established to provide a forum for consultation on the implementation of the rural water programme at county level and to advise on policy and operational matters locally. Each county council has also been asked to appoint a liaison officer to manage the programme locally and liaise with the local committees.
