Vol. 517 No. 5
41 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will include in the conditions of eligibility for the recently announced scheme of grants for group water schemes, a requirement that grant-aided groups must be open to applicants for membership who can be connected at a cost approximating the average cost per group member; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10016/00]
County councils are currently drawing up county based strategic plans for the development and improvement of rural water supplies. As part of that strategy, group scheme grants will only be approved where the county plan identifies that a group solution is the most cost effective and efficient means of supplying the area in question. Groups will be required to provide a supply to all applicants for domestic connections located within the catchment of the scheme as determined on that basis.
