Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 271 together.

Block grant based allocations by my Department in 2015 for new group sewerage schemes amounted to €1.908 million. The amount recouped by my Department for the year, based on the claims for payment by the local authorities, was €0.889 million.

A multi-annual funding approach was introduced for the first time for the Rural Water Programme in 2016. Under the new Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2016 – 2018 two new group sewerage schemes were approved for funding at a total estimated cost of €1.258 million.

While my Department approved €0.145 million for these to commence construction in 2016 no monies were drawn down by the local authorities concerned. It is expected that these schemes will commence construction, and will be grant aided by my Department, in 2017. My Department recouped €0.217 million in 2016 to local authorities for schemes commenced in 2015 but not finished until 2016.

The number of group sewerage schemes that were funded in each county over the past two years is set out in the table. The table includes the two schemes, one in Kerry and one in Leitrim, that had funding approved in 2016 under the new Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2016 – 2018 but did not draw down any funding in 2016 .