Clare County Council has been the green light to implement new subsidy payments for dozens of group water schemes throughout the County.Mr Michael Kitt TD, Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, this week sanctioned the move, which will generally exempt households connected to group water schemes from having to pay for water. The subsidies are designed to cover operational costs incurred by the 5,500 group water schemes around the country who supply drinking water for over 173,000 rural households. Many groups have their own water treatment plants.
Reacting to the announcement, Minister of State and local T.D. Tony Killeen commented “All group schemes will now quality for a basic subsidy of EUR140 per house where the water is abstracted from the group’s own source and EUR70 per house where the water comes from an extension of a local authority watermain.”
He explained that the new subsidies would come into operation immediately. “The terms and conditions of eligibility for the subsidy have been structured to ensure that group schemes operate in an open and efficient manner that guarantees the best quality service and highest water quality to their members,” stated Minister Killeen. The Minister added, “The scale of change in the group schemes sector in recent years had been enormous. Schemes have enthusiastically embraced the campaign to eliminate the sub-standard water supplies that had led to Ireland being found to be in breach of the EU Drinking Water Directive.”
Complimenting Group Water Scheme personnel across Clare, the Minister said, “The headway made in dealing with substandard water supplies has only been possible through their hard work, dedication and spirit of partnership. I would particularly like to acknowledge the contribution of group scheme activists who, for half a century, have worked tirelessly for the betterment of their neighbours and communities.”
Group water schemes are community owned enterprises. The group scheme movement has been active in Ireland since the 1960s and has provided piped water to many rural areas not served by local authority mains. A detailed Explanatory Memorandum on the new subsidies is available from local authorities or on the Department*s website www.environ.ie
