FIANNA FAIL is proposing a direct subvention to group water schemes in urban areas to help defray the costs of operating and maintaining these schemes.
In a formal response to the National Federation of Group Water Schemes, the party's environment spokesman, Mr Noel Dempsey, has indicated that the basis of the subvention would differ from the subsidies already being offered by the Government. Variables such as pipeline lengths and the age of the water scheme would be taken into account.
He could not outline the cost of the party's subvention, but estimated that it would amount to no more than the £7.23 million already promised by the Government.
Mr Dempsey promised that group water scheme administration would not be devolved from the Department of the Environment's decentralisation office in Ballina, Co Mayo. He also undertook that Fianna Fail would recognise the federation as the negotiating body for group water schemes and said that decisions would only be taken following full discussion with it.
Longer term policy matters, including the provision of a permanent scheme for upgrading schemes to ensure that they complied with EU and national requirements, would be negotiated with the federation.
Mr Dempsey said that Fianna Fail would support those schemes which wanted to remain private. In government, it would provide the maximum capital funding possible to bring all drinking water up to EU standards.
The abolition of water charges for certain categories of users had created an inequity which was unfair to people on privately sourced group water schemes, he added.
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