Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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11. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when he plans to implement the recommendations of the national rural water services committee and provide a special funding mechanism to grant aid new group water schemes which were in the pipeline for delivery in certain disadvantaged rural areas but which lost out upon the cessation of CLÁR funding and which, under current funding rules, are not viable for delivery because of funding shortfalls, leaving affected households without a proper water supply and in limbo for a number of years, and in the case of County Mayo, the current rules mean that none of the 2015 grants of €400,000 from his Department can be spent. [37237/15]

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I have raised this issue on a number of occasions. I understand it is progressing. Can provision be made for the 235 families and households in County Mayo in seven areas - Massbrook, Aghaloonteen, Downpatrick Head, Carracastle, Kilmurray, Tonacrick and Fermoyle - who have water they can neither drink, bathe in nor wash clothes in?

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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This question concerns the CLÁR areas. I have taken up this issue on numerous occasions in respect of former CLÁR funding in these areas. I have written to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to try to get some progress and finality on it and I await a reply. I expect to have a reply, which I hope will be favourable, in the coming days.

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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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.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I concur. These are the people we need to support actively and look at ways in which this can be done. There is a working group in place. If we can make some changes in order to help facilitate those people, about whom the Deputy is quite rightly passionate, I will do so. I think we have made progress on it. The issue has been referred from my Department to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Our work has been concluded. When I have news on that I will contact the Deputy directly.