Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy, who has now left, referred to divide and conquer. There is a big division when tens of thousands of people in a county have boil-water notices because of lack of investment in infrastructure. The people in County Roscommon do not see, necessarily from an intensity point of view, the same thing happen in many urban areas around the country. Those people deserve to be supported. That is why we have worked towards ensuring that thousands of them no longer have boil-water notices and are now getting what they absolutely deserve.

Deputy Stanley also made reference to the rural water groups. Subsidies and grants have always been given to the rural water groups to address deficiencies in their schemes even though, as the Deputy is well aware, the schemes are very well run. I acknowledge he has said that on a number of occasions. There are some good schemes not far from where he lives and where I live. I met members of those rural water groups on a number of occasions. They have looked for a multiannual programme of funding so that they can plan ahead, a request to which I have acceded.

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