Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the Minister of State's reply but, in fairness, this was to have been resolved last year. It is evident there is a problem when €400,000 was allocated last year and €200,000 in previous years, but not a cent of it was spent on these new rural group water schemes. A lot of work was done to bring into being the two schemes I mentioned but it has all fallen by the wayside and another panel has now been put in place. I do not know how to explain it. I know the Department deals with a spectrum of types of group water scheme and that different measures are being delivered under the rural water programme. However, these new group water schemes have not been looked after and another expert panel is now looking into the matter.

The Minister of State said the Minister intends to make a decision but, at the moment, it does not seem that much is happening. I also question why the local authorities have not received their funding and why they are on overdrafts, trying to provide basic supports and services to these new rural group water schemes.

On another point, how will capital projects be funded for rural group water schemes? Will that continue to be State-funded or it is envisaged Irish Water will get involved at some stage? With regard to domestic water charges in these areas, will Irish Water or the county council collect the charges?