Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Water supply and water quality are issues that are dear to the heart of the Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney, and ones on which he will take action. As the Senator knows, he is not a Minister who sits around waiting for decisions. He is only in the job less than two months and he has made it very clear that he will make announcements in the very near future in regard to these schemes, and that this will be dealt with. These schemes will not be left waiting and it will be clear exactly what will happen.

With regard to the future of group water schemes, the Senator will have seen that the expert commission on water services includes an expert on group water schemes who has done great work in this area for a long number of years. I am pleased to say the advice of the people involved in this area will be very clearly heard. Again, it was at the Minister's request that this person was on the commission. Hopefully, many of the Senator's concerns will be dealt with in the future and the particular schemes she has mentioned will be addressed shortly in the announcements from the Minister.