Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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52. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for the future of group water schemes throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20453/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The overall allocation for group water and group sewerage schemes and for small public water and sewerage schemes under the Rural Water Programme in 2013 is €35 million. The majority of this funding is provided, by way of block grant allocations, to the local authorities who are responsible for administering the programme. While the administration of the programme is devolved to local authorities, their choice of individual schemes to advance must take account of the investment priorities set by my Department. The investment priorities for 2013 are informed by the rural water investment strategy developed by the National Rural Water Services Committee and approved by me in December 2011.

The substantial funding provided by my Department in respect of the group water sector reflects the important role played by the sector in the delivery of quality water to its members. Under the Water Sector Reform Programme the primary focus of Irish Water will be on the delivery of services to customers on the public water and waste water networks. M y D epartment will remain responsible for the overall policy and funding of the non-public sector, including the group water sector.

In order to facilitate the establishment of a new public water utility to take over responsibility for the delivery of water services, a number of work-streams have been set up under the Water Sector Reform Programme to assist with the transition of services to Irish Water. One such work-stream is dealing specifically with issues relating to the Group Water Sector. The objectives of this work-stream are to ensure that there is clarity of roles and responsibility for the group water sector and other components of the Rural Water Programme, to develop a medium term strategy to determine the appropriate governance, regulation and funding of the sector for the future and to amend delivery mechanisms accordingly.