The Rural Water Programme was devolved from the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government to Local Authorities in 1997. Grant aid is available to communities to assist them in providing or upgrading existing water services infrastructure in their locality. For more details of the grant aid available and conditions attached, please click on the relevant links:-
1. Individual Domestic Well Grants
2. Group Water Supply Schemes
3. Take Over of Group Water Supply Schemes
4. Group Water Supply Schemes - Operational Subsidies
5. Group Sewerage Schemes
6. Funding For Group Schemes - CLAR/ERDF
7. Small Public Water & Sewerage Schemes
8. National Rural Water Monitoring Committee
9. Rural Water Monitoring Committee
10. Rural Water Liasion Officers
1. Individual Domestic Well Grants
The objective of the grant scheme is to assist householders dependent on individual private water supplies. It provides grant assistance where expenditure is incurred on providing a piped supply of water for domestic purposes or rectifying serious deficiencies in an existing supply of water for domestic purposes.
You are eligible to apply for grant assistance if:
- Your house is over 7 years old
- You have not received grant assistance within the last 7 years
- You are not connected to a public water supply or cannot be reasonably served by a public or group water supply scheme source.
Grant funding to a maximum of € 2,031.58 or 75% of the approved cost whichever is lesser; will be provided under the scheme.
For further information, please refer to Domestic Well Grants section of this website.
2. Group Water Supply Schemes
In cases where a group of two or more householders have come together, using a shared water distribution system and / or water treatment system, supplied from a common source, to provide themselves with a water supply where no such supply (or a seriously deficient supply) already exists.
A grant of 85% of the approved cost subject to a limit of €6,475.66 per domestic connection, whichever is the lesser, is available for all eligible works. Group schemes must contribute a minimum of 15% of the cost towards any approved works. Grants apply to:
- new schemes
- extensions to new or existing schemes
- upgrade / refurbishment work
- renewal of existing plant
- connections to a public supply
Works, which are deemed eligible, include planning and design costs, construction, replacement of mechanical plant, reservoirs or distribution networks.
For further information, please refer to Group Water Schemes section of this website.
3. Take Over of Group Water Supply Schemes
Where a group water supply scheme applies to have their scheme taken in charge by Cork County Council, a grant of the total cost of any required refurbishment works may be made available on review by the Council. Please note all of the members of a Group Scheme must agree to transfer ownership of their scheme to the Council to enable any project under this action to proceed.
For further information, please refer to Group Water Schemes section of this website.
4. Group Schemes - Operational Subsidies
Grants are available to private group water schemes to assist them in meeting their annual running costs. The amount of operational subsidy payable will be dependant on the number of domestic connections connected to the scheme, or in the case where group schemes are fully metered, the volumetric water produced to meet the needs of the domestic members. In both cases, the level of the qualifying expenditure will have to be approved by the local authority, subject to a limit of:
- €70.00 for each house supplied from a local authority source
- €140.00 for each house supplied from a private source
- €220.00 for each house where water disinfection and / or treatment is provided under a Design, Build & Operate ( DBO ) Contract or where the water disinfection / treatment plant is operated and maintained by a contractor by way of a bona fide Operational and Maintenance Contract.
For further information, please refer to Subsidies section of this website
5. Group Sewerage Schemes
A grant of 75% of the approved cost subject to a limit of €2,031.58 per domestic connection, whichever is the lesser, is available for all eligible works Group schemes must contribute a minimum of 15% of the cost towards any approved works.
For further information, please refer to Group Sewerage Schemes section of this website
6. Funding For Group Schemes
Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government - Rural Water Allocation - 2010
CLAR
There are a number of DED areas within Cork that are covered under the CLĮR program. CLĮR areas may be eligible for additional funding to help establish group water and group sewerage schemes. Details of the CLĮR areas within Cork can be obtained by contacting the Water Services Section of Cork County Council. Further information is also available on the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs website
ERDF
Under the Rural Water Programme, certain Small and Group Water Schemes are eligible for funding under the National Development Plan and have been part financed by the European Regional Development Fund. This includes funding for
- Completion of New Schemes
- Upgrading of Existing Schemes
- Provision of Treatment Works to improve quality
- Water Conservation via metering of schemes
- Source Protection Works
For further information on schemes in Cork County that have received grant aid please click on the following link - Projects Part-Financed by The European Union (ERDF) 2000 -2006
7. Small Public Water & Sewerage Schemes
A small public water and/or sewerage scheme consists of capital works for the improvement and/or extension of public schemes. Small capital schemes up to a maximum cost of €635,000 are eligible for funding. The Council contributes 25% of the cost towards small scheme projects. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government funds 75% of the remaining cost
8. National Rural Water Monitoring Committee
The National Rural Water Monitoring Committee was set up to monitor and advise on the development and implementation of policy in relation to the Rural Water Programme. This committee has representatives from the Department of the Environment Heritage and Local Government, the Local Authorities, the Private Group Water Scheme Sector, and various Rural organisation and is the under the stewardship of an independent chairperson.
The committee will report annually to the Minister on the operation of the devolved programme.
9. Rural Water Monitoring Committee
Rural Water Monitoring Committees were set up to advise on the operation of the Rural Water Progarmme locally. In Cork there are three Rural Water Monitoring Committees - one for North Cork, South Cork and West Cork. The Rural Water Monitoring Committees meetings are held quarterly and the Committee is made up of the following:
- Cork County Council Councillors
- Member of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA)
- Member of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA)
- Member of the Irish Countrywomens Association (ICA)
- Representatives from local Group Water Schemes
- Cork County Rural Water Liasion Officer and other Council Officials
10. Rural Water Liaison Officers
Cork County Rural Water Liaison Officers facilitate the flow of information between the group water sector and the local authority. The Rural Water Liaison Officer deals with the day to day issues in the implementation of the Rural Water Programme and you may contacted the Rural Liaison Officer for your area at the following:
- North Cork: 022 30449 or 022 54819
- South Cork: 021 4285058
- West Cork: 028 21299
