Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As my questions states, a budget of €400,000 under the rural water block grant has been provided to create new rural group water schemes but we cannot spend one red cent of it in County Mayo and we could not spend any money this year due to the current rules. I commend the fact that the Minister and his predecessor charged the national rural water services committee to look at this issue. It is a question of funding. I wish to make two final points. It is quantifiable in the sense that these schemes have been in limbo since the cessation of CLÁR funding so this will not be a future multi-annual commitment. There is a quantifiable number of schemes and these people are willing to pay for water. Does that not mean something? These people have spent thousands of euro trying to drill wells, pay for group water schemes and have companies in place. One scheme has spent €36,000 of the local people's own money and they are still without a water supply. It makes ridiculous much of what we see here where people can turn a tap and get water which they can drink, bathe in and are not afraid to give to their children or people who are sick and take it all for granted. On the last occasion I told the Minister of State, Deputy Ann Phelan, that a lady telephoned me to say she was sick and cannot have anything whatsoever to do with the water. She asked if I would tell the Minister she had a cheque to pay for the water and asked if he would do something for her once for all. This is a critical issue and it will be ridiculous if Mayo County Council has to send back money.

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