Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I believe the recommendation was that this special funding mechanism was to be set up to match the funds which CLÁR had available and to apply the rules that CLÁR had applied. Therefore, it was to be a de facto CLÁR but it would be dealing with a defined number of new schemes. These are schemes which have not just been thought about today; they have been thought about since CLÁR ceased. These people are in limbo. What is the point in allocating money for new group water schemes if the rules do not allow the funding to be spent? People do not see that as sincere, nor do I.

People see red iron oxide in the water in their houses and they must accept it as a fact of life every time they wash their whites, which means that, over a period of time, they will turn red. It is not a joke. People are at their wit's end. I would like to think, now that the rural water services committee has reported, there will be action. We all know it is question of funding. These people will pay. They have already paid in one scheme and they will be asked to be pay again. I am not talking about their yearly payment because they will be asked to pay towards the setting up of the scheme. However, I cannot advise any of the people who are in charge of the schemes to go back looking for money from their neighbours because, given the way the rules stand at the moment, nothing can be done.

Not alone have these communities spent €36,000, but they set up a company limited by guarantee as a vehicle to deliver the scheme and it must make returns to the Companies Office and pay an auditor every year. Therefore, they are constantly out of pocket, have nothing for it and have no water. Previous administrations had money and failed to deal with this issue. This is a legacy issue, but we are at a time now when where we need to deal with it and do something for people. Will the Minister act on the recommendation and will that happen in a matter of weeks as opposed to some time down the line? When the change was made in 2014, no project got across the line. It will become apparent that the project is ridiculous if it does not happen soon.

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