Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 275: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will respond to submissions made by a group water scheme (details supplied) in County Limerick,. [5182/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the Glenroe scheme is one of 20 group water schemes in County Limerick for which new water treatment facilities are being procured under a single design-build-operate contract. A single contractor will design and construct the treatment facilities and operate them under contract to the participating groups for a 20 year period.

Under the rural water programme, which is funded by my Department through annual block grants to local authorities, a 100% grant is available to group schemes towards the cost of water treatment and disinfection facilities. Associated works, such as buildings and pipelines, are grant aided at up to 85% of cost, subject to a maximum cost of €7,618 per house. In addition, participating group schemes are eligible for an annual subsidy of up to €196 per house towards their operational costs.

While the level of group water scheme grants and subsidies is kept under continuing review in consultation with the national rural water monitoring committee and the national federation of group water schemes, there are no proposals for any increases at present.