Group water scheme upgrades
Danny Healy-Rae asks for attention and funding for long-neglected group water schemes, declaring a potential family-business conflict. The Taoiseach explains that some schemes failed to meet standards and says the Government’s improvement programme continues.
Before I ask my question, I highlight that it could be construed that I may have a conflict of interest, as I have a family plant hire business involved in different projects around Kerry and Cork maybe as well.
Are the Taoiseach and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government aware that many group water schemes have been on the list to be taken in charge for many years? These group schemes are now in dire need of attention. Heretofore, the Department provided funding to bring these group schemes up to scratch. In order that fair play will be seen to be carried out, I ask the Taoiseach what funding is in place to do this. In Clanmorris, north Kerry, there is a large group scheme with 1,300 customers, while there are more than 2,000 customers in the central group scheme around Tralee. I also want to make the Taoiseach aware that in one of these group schemes people have been paying residential water charges. There is a serious matter to be addressed here, so I am asking the Taoiseach to provide funding so that everyone will be on a level pitch.
Comment on this
Before this Oireachtas is over we will know every townland in Kerry.
Comment on this
With due respect to the family plant hire business of the Healy-Raes, some of the group water schemes - although, of course, not in Kerry - were put in place by contractors that did not measure up to the standard. That is the reason they have been in trouble for a long time.
The Deputy is aware that the Government and the Department had a scheme to put local group schemes together, to measure up to standards where metering was installed, where water was saved and costs were reduced. People were much happier as a consequence. That scheme is continuing. I assume that if the Deputy contacts his local authority together with Irish Water and the Department's housing and planning unit, they will indicate the strategy for schemes that are intended to be brought up to standard so that people can have a high quality system.