Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 225: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he expects local authorities to receive adequate funding from his Department for the provision of group water schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22496/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 227: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he expects to be in position to continue to assist Kildare County Council in their efforts to implement local group water schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22498/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 227 together.

My Department provides funding towards group water schemes by way of annual block grant allocations to local authorities, including Kildare County Council, under the Department's Rural Water Programme. Responsibility for the administration of this programme has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. The selection and approval of individual group scheme proposals for funding and advancement under the programme, within the overall priorities set by my Department and subject to the block grant allocation provided, is therefore a matter for the water services authorities. The 2012 allocation for the Rural Water Programme is €40 million, of which over €20 million was notified to local authorities last March by way of block grant allocations towards group water schemes. The allocation notified to Kildare County Council was €110,000. In addition, group water schemes can qualify for subsidy funding towards their operational costs. This subsidy scheme, for which some €21 million is being provided this year, is also administered by the local authorities.