Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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277. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of persons here that avail of group water schemes; if there is a breakdown by county of these numbers; the number of families that have private wells by county; the amount by which these costs are subsidised in comparison to Irish Water customers; the amount these private supplies cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11797/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In 2016, my Department recouped local authorities for subsidy payments made by them to 694 group water schemes serving 96,678 houses. This does not account for all group water schemes in the country as not all group water schemes claim subsidies. Some smaller schemes, particularly those that are supplied water from the Irish Water public mains supply, do not currently apply for subsidies. However, these figures are understood to represent the majority by household that avail of group water schemes to supply their domestic water. The following table provides a breakdown by county of the numbers claiming subsidies in 2016.

In order to establish a more complete picture of the group water scheme sector, work is being advanced on the compilation of a full dataset of group water schemes across the country. The dataset is being developed through the co-operation of key stakeholders involving local authorities, the National Federation of Group Water Schemes as well as my Department.

To ensure equity of treatment with households on public water supplies the subsidy rates for group water schemes were adjusted down in 2015 to reflect the new domestic water charging regime introduced on 1 January 2015. In line with the suspension of domestic water charges for a period of nine months from 1 July 2016, as set out in the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2016, and to ensure equity of treatment with households on public water supplies, my Department advised local authorities in August 2016 that, for the duration of the suspension period, the subsidy rates were adjusted up to pre-2015 levels to reflect the suspension of domestic water charges for households connected to the public water supply. My Department will give further consideration to the subsidies available for the operation of group water schemes in light of the Oireachtas decision on the enduring funding model for public domestic water services.

Details of the level of subsidies are available from local authorities and on my Department’s website at the following link: .

Census 2011 indicated that 161,532 private dwellings in the country are dependent on a private non-mains source of water supply (more commonly called private wells) for their household water supply. Figures for Census 2016 will not be available under later in 2017. There is no annual subsidy funding towards the operation and maintenance cost of private wells.