Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 231: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that despite the recent revelations on RTE's Primetime programme concerning the quality of water in group water schemes in County Mayo, the situation has not improved and that families in the area are still at risk from contaminated water; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that one group water scheme (details supplied) is in breach of EU Directive 2000/60/EC on the provision of clean drinking water; and if he will use the powers vested in him to ensure that an emergency supply of clean water is provided to the area concerned and the local primary school in particular; if professional personnel will be provided to monitor the quality of drinking water in the area until Mayo County Council is in a position to provide a treatment plant and palatable water; if he, who has provided substantial funding has satisfied himself with the response of Mayo County Council to the water quality situation in the county generally and in this area in particular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16704/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Funding for the development of the group water scheme sector is provided by my Department through annual block grant allocations to the local authorities under the Rural Water Programme. The overall provision for the Programme in 2006 is a record €133m.

I understand that issues relating to group scheme compliance with mandatory drinking water standards in County Mayo are largely confined to schemes that rely on substandard private surface and ground water sources. The strategy in the Action Plan drawn up by the National Rural Water Monitoring Committee for bringing such schemes into compliance is to connect them to public water supply networks or, where this is not feasible, to provide on-site water treatment and disinfection facilities. Responsibility for the planning, approval and funding of such solutions is the responsibility of the local authorities under the devolved Rural Water Programme.

Earlier this year, in response to Mayo County Council's extensive group water scheme upgrading proposals, I approved an allocation of €17m for the county's group schemes under the 2006 Rural Water Programme. Some €10.75m from this allocation will be expended on the provision of treatment and disinfection facilities for up to 42 group water schemes, including the Fahy scheme, which, between them, serve over 7,000 households. A further €5m will be invested in connecting 20 more group schemes to public water supply networks. In addition, I will be providing significant funding to the Council to support the administrative and technical resources assigned to the planning and implementation of the Rural Water Programme. I allocated €390,000 to the Council under this heading in 2005.

I am satisfied that sufficient funding is being provided under the Rural Water Programme for Mayo County Council to expeditiously eliminate substandard group water scheme supplies and that the Council, in partnership with the group water scheme sector, is advancing the associated works as quickly as possible. As in previous years, in the event of Mayo County Council exceeding its current progress targets, I will consider making an increased allocation to them from any savings elsewhere.