Bernard Allen
Ceist:1442 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if a person should be allowed to obtain a grant for sinking a well. [17517/02]
Written Answers. - Grant Aid.
Bernard Allen
Ceist:1443 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will review his Department's regulations governing the grants for improvements in an individual water supply to enable householders whose water supply is contaminated to apply for a grant within the stated seven year period; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a considerable number of people are affected by this regulation and that there is a need to update the scheme. [17617/02]
Denis Naughten
Ceist:1474 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will review the guidelines for the grant scheme to install an individual pump whereby applicants building a new house, but not in receipt of the first time buyers grant, would be eligible to apply under this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15806/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1442, 1443 and 1747 together.
A grant aid of up to €2,031.58 or 75% of the approved cost, whichever is the lesser, is available for the provision or necessary improvement of a domestic water supply to an existing dwelling where a supply cannot be obtained from either a public or group water scheme. Eligible works may include the drilling or sinking of a well. It is a condition of eligibility for grant purposes that the house has not been constructed within the previous seven years or that a grant for the provision of the house, or for the provision or improvement of a water supply to the house, has not been paid within the previous seven years. I have no proposals to modify these qualifying conditions.