Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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470. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider changing the criteria regarding the minimum contribution requested from households to enable rural group water schemes such as Downpatrick water scheme in County Mayo to go ahead; in the absence of CLÁR funding the 16 households in Downpatrick are unable to avail of the funding allocated by Mayo County Council unless the criteria are changed; his views on whether it is wrong that these people are denied the basic human right of clean water while €170,000 is returned to his Department from Mayo County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50493/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Responsibility for the administration of the Rural Water Programme, which includes group water schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. The selection and approval of individual scheme proposals 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, Mayo County Council in this case.

There are particular issues with regard to the putting in place of some new group water schemes where the costs involved call in to question the viability of the scheme. At present, grants of up to 85% of cost, subject to a maximum grant of €6,475 per house, are available towards new group water schemes. The National Rural Water Services Committee, which has a role in advising me in relation to policy and investment in rural water services, has been considering the issue of funding of new group water schemes. I am expecting advice from the Committee by the end of this year, and will then give consideration to any suggestions it may make regarding amendments to the scheme.