Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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6. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the status of his ongoing consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regarding the National Rural Water Services Committee's recommendation for funding specific new group water schemes in previously CLÁR-funded areas, which under current funding rules are not viable for delivery because of funding shortfalls, when he will be in a position to implement the recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44044/15]

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State may recall that I previously tabled a question in regard to the provision of rural group water schemes in seven regions of Mayo for people who currently do not have a proper water supply. I do not propose to repeat what I said previously on this issue except that something needs to be done.

Mayo County Council has €400,000. It looks like it will be sent back unless the funding shortfall is addressed by the Department.

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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Last month, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government outlined to the House the efforts he is making to address the funding issues associated with specific group water schemes in the Deputy's county. Although the specific issue has not been resolved conclusively with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the matter has been superseded by work on the development of a new rural water multi-annual programme.

My Department recently established a working group involving key stakeholders in the rural water sector to address the overall development of the sector within the overall water sector reform programme to ensure the programme responds effectively to current and future needs. Local authorities, the water services transition office of the Local Government Management Agency, Irish Water and the National Federation of Group Water Schemes as well as my Department are represented on the working group. One of the tasks of the group is to develop a multi-annual approach to targeting funding to meet priority needs of the sector. The group met last week and agreed the principles governing the new rural water multi-annual funding framework for 2016 to 2018.

It is intended that details of the new multi-annual programme will be announced in the coming weeks after having obtained the necessary sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on specific aspects of the programme. Local authorities will be invited by year end to bid for 2016 funding to provide a perspective on funding needs for schemes in their areas for 2017 and 2018 as well as to bid for suitable demonstration projects in line with the criteria to be set by the working group for some categories of projects. The overall funding arrangements for 2016 onwards for all group water schemes, including those in previously CLÁR-funded areas, will be set out in this context.

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I very much welcome the work that has been done to date, particularly the recommendations of the national rural water services committee, but there is a time for action. I want to know whether Mayo County Council will have to send back the funding and whether we will see some movement on the seven schemes in Mayo that have been in limbo since 2010. The total shortfall to deliver water to the 235 houses is estimated at €662,346. Will there be some solution before the end of the year? Can some hope be given to these people? We have a vision for everyone else through Irish Water and these people are left in limbo.

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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I understand the Deputy's frustration. I know she has raised this issue a number of times in the House but I ask her to bear with us. We are making very good progress in this area and we expect to make an announcement before year end. I ask the Deputy to continue to keep in contact with her local authority because local authorities will be invited to bid for 2016 funding and are very much represented on that working group. I ask the Deputy to have some more patience at this point in time.

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It was brought to my attention by a member of the Kilmurray Cordal group water scheme, which is one of the seven to which I referred. It has received notification from the Companies Registration Office that it will be struck off for failing to file returns. These people have already spent approximately €56,000 from their own funding and part of that was to employ consultants, set up a company and keep it going. They do not have money. The promoters of it are very reluctant to go around to households looking for more money when this has been going on for years. They are despondent. I will continue to press the matter with the Minister of State and I trust that some hope is given to these people as we look towards the new year.

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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I do understand. These types of projects have been discussed by the working group. It is a matter for prioritisation and I again ask the Deputy to have a little more patience. We expect to be in a position towards the end of the year to deal with some of the projects to which she referred.