Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which funding for group water and sewerage schemes and small schemes is likely to be available to the local authorities throughout the country with particular reference to addressing any backlogs or schemes that have not received adequate attention over a number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54558/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Responsibility for the administration of the Rural Water Programme, which includes group water schemes, group sewerage schemes and small public water and sewerage schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. The block grant allocations provided by my Department to the water services authorities are based, in the first instance, on the requests for funding received from the water services authorities at the beginning of each year. There may also be some additional allocations, or variations to existing allocations, during the course of the year based on responses from the authorities to any reviews of expenditure which may be carried out.

Decisions on the funding to be provided under the programme in 2013 will be made as early as possible in the New Year after taking into account needs outlined by the local authorities and the available Exchequer resources. The selection, approval and prioritisation of individual schemes for advancement and funding under the programme, within the overall priorities set by my Department and subject to the block grant allocations provided, is therefore a matter for the water services authorities.