Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 436: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason top up funding for group water schemes and sewerage schemes under the CLÁR water sewerage measures has been suspended, despite the fact that same is significant in the context of CLÁR areas in view of their definition of low population basis, and whereby there is an effort made to ensure that people have an opportunity to live therein and that provision of group water schemes and sewerage schemes are necessary in this context; when funding will be restored under the CLÁR system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32136/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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As the deputy is aware one of the more successful aspects of the CLÁR programme has been the level of funding provided to the various Water and Sewerage measures over the years. Funding approved under those measures has risen from approximately €2.4m in 2002 to more than €10m to date in 2008. In total almost €39m has been approved to date for water and sewerage schemes since the programme was launched in 2001.

I am constantly reviewing the resources allocated to and the impact of the various individual schemes under the CLÁR programme. In relation to the water and sewerage schemes I intend to announce re-focused measures in the near future which will focus on group water scheme top ups and the provision of sewerage schemes in small villages. The purpose of this approach is to ensure quality water systems to areas of the country lacking these at present and to ensure the growth of small towns and villages by providing sewerage schemes where there are none at present.