West Tyrone Sinn Fein Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Mc Gill welcomes progress on rural waters mains connection issue

Published: 13 November, 2008

Sinn Féin West Tyrone MLA Claire Mc Gill has welcomed correspondence from DRD Minister Conor Murphy in which he has outlined the steps he is taking to progress the issue of providing mains water supply to residences, mainly in rural areas, that are currently not served by the public water system.

Claire Mc Gill said,

"In West Tyrone, as in many other areas throughout the six counties, there are still many rural dwellers that still do not have access to mains water supply. As well as lobbying the Minister in writing on the issue, I led a delegation from West Tyrone to meet with Conor Murphy on the matter in July.

"I now welcome the latest response I have received from the Minister on the issue in which he has outlined the steps he is taking to progress the issue. An initial survey of all 26 local District Council areas has identified around 4,500 properties which would require further investigation before the total number of properties which would need a main requisition in order to have access to a mains water supply and further investigation is now under way.

"The Minister says that on full completion of the survey that the next step will be to write to households identified seeking confirmation of their water status and asking if they would wish to be connected. The next stage will be to draw up estimates of the costs and to bring forward policy proposals and options which will establish criteria for the provision of assistance for those wishing to have their properties connected to mains water supply.

"He said that these proposals would require Executive approval before they could proceed to public consultation. While his letter included the caveat that his department has limited funding in its budget and any bid for additional resources to finance the initiative would have to be found within the NI DEL, he said that a bid for additional resources must be supported by good quality data and that is why he is determined to get robust figures from the outset.

"The Minister concluded his letter by saying that he is determined to do his best, within the available resources, to ensure that those who wish to have access to mains water supply will have that opportunity, not only in West Tyrone but throughout the six counties.

"I welcome the fact that the process is now well underway to achieve this outcome."

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS - Currently DRD provides grant assistance of £6,500 to make it affordable for householders in rural areas to have their properties connected to the mains water supply.