John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his attendance and his continued work across his portfolio. The issue I raise this morning relates to the estimated 11% of Irish people who get their water from private water supplies. As the Minister of State will be aware, varying levels of grants are available under the rural water programme for the carrying out of works to private water supplies, be that for sinking a new well, rehabilitation of an existing well or treatment to improve water quality. Under the scheme, a householder can apply for an 85% grant, up to a maximum of €3,000, for rehabilitation works to an existing supply or an 85% grant up to a maximum of €5,000 for a new well, where the housing authority agrees that is the most appropriate solution. In addition to this, a householder can also apply for a 100% grant up to a maximum of €1,000 for treatment to improve water quality, which typically consists of filtration or UV treatment. All grants are paid on the basis of costs of works incurred by the householder.

Unfortunately, the level of grant available for the treatment element of the scheme is often not sufficient to cover the costs involved, particularly in areas where ground water is poor. In my native county of Waterford, many rural householders face costs in excess of €1,500, and in extreme cases up to €3,000, for treatment works to improve the water quality and the level of grant is only set at €1,000. It is true that that sum of €1,000 is sufficient in some cases but often it is not. I am not suggesting an across-the-board increase in the grant. I am simply suggesting that instead of a householder being able to apply for the €3,000 or €5,000 grant plus the €1,000 treatment grant, the words "and-or" be inserted into the scheme to allow a combined figure of €7,000 to be used. That would enable the householder, who incurs significant treatment costs, to have them covered in full.This would simply be a reprofiling of the scheme and would not result in significant additional cost. It would basically allow householders to use the unused part of the grant for newer rehabilitated wells and allow them to use it for the water treatment which, as I have said, often costs well in excess of the €1,000 that is provided for. Alternatively, if that is not possible, the €1,000 grant for treatment only should be increased to €3,000 to reflect the actual cost involved for householders. This will make a significant difference for the 11% of households that rely on private water supplies.

In addition, I understand that all local authorities were issued with a letter on 19 January instructing them to close out before 30 March all grants approved under the scheme up to June 2020, which is only 17 working days from now. Given the level 5 restrictions and that construction has been essentially stopped since the start of the year, it is not reasonable to require people, who were given grant approval last year, to reapply if they could not get the works done.

Equally, it is not reasonable to ask local authority staff to undertake the heavy workload involved in testing and approving the works which have been completed in the tight timeframe. This can often take many visits to check the water supply, for works to be done, and for them to go back and test again. The deadline should be extended until the end of the year to allow householders and local authorities the time and space to be able to close out the scheme. I certainly hope the Department can take on board these two suggestions. I again thank the Minister of State for his continued work.