The Rural Water Programme aims to improve the quality and reliability of rural water supplies and under this programme the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government provides a subsidy  towards the operational costs of group water schemes.  This subsidy is payable by all Local Authories to all registered Group Water Supply Schemes who supply water for domestic use, once the group water scheme is compliant with main criterias of the subsidy scheme as set out in the Explanatory Memorandum.

In 2009 the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government introduced a new Operational Subsidy grant scheme. The new subsidy scheme applies to Annual Subsidy claims for the year 2008 and subsequent years and to Advance Subsidy Claims for the year 2009 and subsequent years. 

For subsidy purposes a group water scheme is defined as:
'A scheme providing a private supply of water to two or more house by means of a common of shared source of supply and distribution system'.

Eligible group water schemes can obtain an operational subsidy each year. A Group Water Scheme may obtain a supply from either a local authority water main or from a private source such as a lake, well, borehole etc.

Detailed terms and conditions for the operational subsidy scheme including the rates of subsidy payable are set out in the following document:

·      Explanatory Memorandum - Subsidy towards the Operational Costs of  Group Water Schemes

Annual Subsidy

The subsidy is divided into two parts that are structured to take account of the differing operational arrangements and costs in each case.

Subsidy A

Subsidy A is payable towards the general operational and management costs of ALL group water schemes

Subsidy B

Subsidy B is payable towards 'bona fide' Operation & Maintenance costs associated with Design/ Build/ Operate (DBO) contracts for large group schemes that have their own water treatment facilities.   Subsidy B does not apply -as there are no Design Build & Operate Group Water Schemes in the County Cork.

·       Application Form:   Application for Annual Subsidy Payment Subsidy A & B - WS 1Ann                                         

Applications for payment of the Annual Subsidy should be submitted by group water schemes to Cork County Council no later than 30 June of the year following the year to which the subsidy claim relates.

Advance Subsidy

To assist the financial management of group water schemes, an Advance Subsidy A Payment may be claimed each year. 

·       Application Form:   Application for Advance Subsidy Payment Subsidy A & B - WS 2 Adv                                      

Please note the closing date for completed Subsidy applicatons forms is the 30 June of the year following the year to which the subsidy claim relates and can be submitted to :

Rural Water Liaison Officer 

Water Services

Floor 11

Cork County Council

County Hall

Cork

Tel No. 021 4285353