Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 298: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his Department has received an application for funding to provide a sewerage scheme at Glasson Village, Athlone, County Westmeath; if so, the status in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33341/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Glasson/ Ballykeeran/Coosan Sewerage Scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 under the Rural Towns and Villages Initiative at an estimated cost of €3.68m.

My Department approved Westmeath County Council's Preliminary Report for the scheme in June 2004. Certain additional information has been requested from the Council and as soon as this is provided the Council may advance the scheme to construction without any further reference to my Department in accordance with the streamlined procedures I introduced earlier this year to advance progress under the Water Services Investment Programme.

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 299: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if it is Government policy that all new one-off houses in rural areas must have water meters installed; if so, the purpose of their installation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33342/06]

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 300: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if it is Government policy that all new houses must have water meters installed; if so, the purpose of their installation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33343/06]

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 301: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if it is Government policy that all new schools must have water meters installed; if so, the purpose of their installation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33344/06]

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 302: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if it is Government policy that all schools must have water meters installed; if so, the purpose of their installation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33345/06]

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 303: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if it is Government policy that all community centres must have water meters installed; if so, the purpose of their installation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33346/06]

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 304: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if it is Government policy that there will be an annual charge on each water meter installed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33347/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 299 to 304, inclusive, together.

The Water Framework Directive requires water providers to recover the cost of providing water services from all non-domestic users of these services, by means of a meter based volumetric charge to ensure water charging of users according to actual consumption.

My Department is aware that local authorities may, in particular circumstances, meter domestic water usage and that some authorities may require the installation of a water meter as a condition of a grant of planning permission. This is for the purpose of assisting water management and conservation measures. It is not connected to domestic water charges since there is a statutory prohibition on the charging of households for domestic water services.

In the case of domestic water supply provided by way of a private group water scheme, the installation of meters on individual connections is a matter for the group scheme management to decide. Groups are eligible for an annual subsidy from my Department of up to €196.81 per house towards the operational cost of providing domestic water supplies to members. Where meters are installed by a group scheme as an integral part of a network upgrading and water conservation programme, grants of up to 85% of costs are payable, subject to a maximum grant of €300 per meter.