Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have three questions, the first of which is about rural and group schemes. When water charges were abolished, the Government committed to reinstating the funding which the schemes previously had. Have we yet moved in that direction and what is the amount involved? During the course of our deliberations it was not possible for the all-party committee to put a value on the subvention for rural and group schemes in order to measure them against public schemes and ensure parity. What progress has been made by the Department in that regard and has it communicated directly with the representative body for group schemes?

Will the Vote for next year be net of the service level agreement between local authorities and Irish Water? Will the Minister confirm whether the agreement is being renegotiated? What savings are expected to be made and what impact, if any, will they have on the delivery of services from a local authority perspective?