Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 25 Feb 1999

Vol. 501 No. 2

Written Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Joe Higgins

Ceist:

290 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the ministerial directive, if any, to a local authority in relation to the installation of household water meters prior to the local authority taking control of group water schemes. [5696/99]

Joe Higgins

Ceist:

291 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some local authorities are insisting on the installation of household water meters prior to their taking over control of group water schemes; and, if so, the number of local authorities in which this had happened. [5697/99]

Joe Higgins

Ceist:

292 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will issue a directive to all local authorities instructing them that they must take control of any group water scheme without insisting on household water meters if the members of the scheme do not so wish. [5698/99]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 290, 291 and 292 together.

Under the devolved rural water programme a group water scheme may only be taken over by a local authority with the agreement of the group itself. While I am not aware of the instances referred to by the Deputy, customer and district meters are a useful management tool and help to monitor and conserve water usage. Grants are payable to groups for providing them in new schemes or as part of an improvement project and they may also be funded as part of the cost of upgrading a scheme prior to being taken in charge by a local authority.

The National Rural Water Monitoring Committee, which is representative of local authorities, the group scheme sector and my own Department, was set up last year to advise on policy and to monitor implementation, by local authorities, of the devolved programme. Local committees have also been established at county level which mirror the activities of the national committee and provide a forum for resolving any local issues that may arise in relation to the rural water programme, such as the question of metering group consumers.

Michael Creed

Ceist:

293 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has received a request from the northern committee of Cork County Council for funding for sewerage schemes (details supplied); and if he will make funding available immediately in order that these schemes can proceed. [5728/99]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

The Doneraile sewerage scheme is included in my Department's 1999 water and sewerage services investment programme as a scheme to be advanced through planning.

The position in relation to the Buttevant scheme is that a brief for the appointment of consultants to prepare a preliminary report for the scheme has been submitted to the Department but has not been approved. As the scheme is not included in the 1999 water and sewerage services investment programme it comes within the terms of my Department's circular letter L9/98 of 22 October 1998 which asked each local authority to undertake a fresh assessment of the needs for capital works in its area and to prepare a prioritised list of projects based on the assessment. The priority lists will be taken into consideration by the Department in framing future water and sewerage services investment programmes under the next National Development Plan 20002006. In the meantime the scheme will be considered, along with other competing proposals, under the rural towns and villages initiative, details of which will be announced shortly.

Michael Creed

Ceist:

294 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has received a request from the northern committee of Cork County Council for funding for a water scheme (details supplied); and if he will provide funding immediately in order that this water scheme can proceed. [5730/99]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

Contract documents for the scheme were submitted to my Department on January 1983 but have not been approved. As the scheme is not included in the 1999 water and sewerage services investment programme it comes within the terms of my Department's circular letter L9/98 of 22 October 1998 which asked each local authority to undertake a fresh assessment of the needs for capital works in its area and to prepare a prioritised list of projects based on the assessment. The priority lists will be taken into consideration by my Department in framing future water and sewerage services investment programmes under the next National Development Plan 2000-2006.