Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 November 2004

Thursday, 25 November 2004

Ceisteanna (285)

Jack Wall

Ceist:

285 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding discretionary grants for local group water scheme committees when they are having difficulties meeting maintenance, refurbishment and upgrading costs; if his Department has a system of discretionary grants; if such grants are available from the local authority of the area in which a scheme is located; the mechanisms for such groups to carry out such alterations for the improvement of supplies for their members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30767/04]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

A range of grants for upgrading and improvement works, together with a subsidy towards operational costs, is available to group water schemes from county councils under the devolved rural water programme. My Department funds the rural water programme by way of annual block grants to the county councils who are responsible for determining the eligibility of individual group schemes for grant or subsidy purposes. No other funding is available from my Department for this purpose.