asked the Minister for the Environment the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cavan has not been supplied with water by the local group water scheme at the rate promised and registered in his Department.

The amount of any contribution payable to a group scheme by individual members of the group and the arrangements for granting a water supply in individual cases are matters for settlement between the parties concerned and ones in which I have no function.

In this case my Department have sought a refund from the group of the £100 State grant paid to the group in respect of the provision of a domestic supply to the person named, on the grounds that the work by reference to which the grant was paid was not carried out.

Will the Minister say if there is any prospect of having this scheme completed and put into operation at an early date?

This depends on the sponsors of the scheme. If they can continue their work on it and get their connections they will be given their grants. With regard to continuing the scheme, it is up to the sponsors to come forward with plans that will allow the scheme to continue.