Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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545. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the discussions he has had with the National Federation of Group Water Schemes in relation to the future subvention of the group water schemes; the estimated level of the future subvention in 2015 and 2016; the timeline for a final decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43324/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The Government announced on 6 May 2014 its intention to adjust the current subvention of group water schemes so that it is aligned with the free allowance approach for households on public water supplies. This is to ensure households in this sector receive equivalent support, while allowing for any transitional issues, to sustain improvements in quality in the group water sector. There has been an initial formal engagement in relation to the future subvention of the group water sector with the National Federation of Group Water Schemes. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has proposed to continue to treat public group water schemes in the interim regulatory period as non-domestic customers. As such, current tariff arrangements, as applied by local authorities prior to 1 January 2014, will continue to apply for the foreseeable future.

The Government remains committed to continuing to support the sector as an important element of the water industry in Ireland, founded on co-operative community and voluntary engagement, and to invest in the sector to sustain and improve quality standards and performance. Against this background, the future approach to the supervision of the group water sector and funding in relation to both capital and operational subsidies will be determined by my Department in due course, in consultation with the National Federation of Group Water Schemes.