THE National Federation of Group Water Schemes is seeking a meeting with the Taoiseach to "clarify" Government policy on the future of privately operated group water schemes.
The federation wants the meeting to take place before the Minister for the Environment, Mr Howlin, makes any further announcements about group water schemes.
Mr Howlin promised yesterday that a major water or sewerage scheme would start every week this year.
But the federation fears the Minister will bring all the water schemes under the control of local authorities.
It says that where schemes wish to remain private they should be allowed to do so. It called on the government to provide the necessary capital funding of £50 million so that a significant start could be made on an upgrading programme to EU standards.
A spokesman for the Minister said yesterday there appeared to be some misunderstanding. Mr Howlin had no difficulty with water schemes remaining private if they wanted to. There was a range of group water schemes and some were being taken over by the local authorities all the time. However, if some wished to remain private that would not pose a problem. The Minister had made that clear at a meeting last Thursday.
The spokesman said Mr Howlin would now consider the whole complex matter and bring proposals to Government.
The Minister, announcing his Department's work programme for water and sewerage services yesterday, said £150 million was being provided. More than 60 large public schemes would start this year, including:
Dundalk, Co Louth: provision of a new treatment plant.
. Cork: first phase of the main drainage scheme, involving the upgrading of the collection system to the Atlantic Pond pumping station.
. Limerick: first phase of main drainage scheme which will also help to open up the Shannon to access for cruisers from the sea.
. Dublin: series of projects to conserve water supply, reduce pollution of the Liffey and improve water quality.
. Lough Mask: phase two of the regional water supply scheme, extending the supply to Knock and Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo.
Measures to reduce water loss in the network supplying Dublin are promised for this year. This is part of a programme to improve the water supply system in the Greater Dublin region.
More than 80 per cent of investment in water and sewerage services will come from the EU this year, the Minister said.
Mr Howlin added that this year's programme was the largest in the history of the State.