Patrickswell Sewerage Scheme

Respresentation by Patrick C.Fitzgerald MCC
The Patrickswell Sewerage Scheme which is currently under construction
is funded by the Department of Environment, Community and Local
Government through the Water Services Investment Programme (WSIP).  It
should be noted that the Department only provides funding for a scheme
that serves the existing core area of a town or village and
development lands in its environs. A copy of the Patrickswell Sewerage
Scheme layout is attached for your information.

As the Lurriga/Ballybanogue area is rural in nature and lies outside
both the core area and the development boundary as identified in the
Patrickswell Local Area Plan, the Department would not fund an
extension to the current scheme.

With respect to the possibility of securing funding for a group
sewerage scheme, it should be noted that the provision of sewerage
infrastructure in this area would cost a minimum of €650,000.  Please
note that this is an estimate and would be subject to change following
a detailed design of the works required.

Group Sewerage Schemes are funded under the Rural Water Programme with
a maximum grant available of €6,500 per house.  As there are
approximately 50 houses that could connect to a scheme in this area,
the maximum grant that could be available is €325,000, approximately
50% of the estimated construction cost.  The general procedure for
establishing a group sewerage scheme is as follows:

1.      A committee should be selected comprising of not more than six
people and headed by a group organiser who will conduct all necessary
business with the Group and the County Council.

2.      The Group Organiser should write in the first instance to the Water
Services Department giving notice of the intention to formulate a
Group Sewerage Scheme.

3.      The group should collect an initial contribution from each house so
that an engineer may be engaged to design the scheme.  The design once
completed should be submitted to the Water Services Department of the
council for approval.

4.      The group must then apply to the Planning Authority for permission
to construct the scheme.

5.      On the basis of an approved design and planning permission being
granted, tenders must be sought for the construction of the works.
The collection of necessary cash contributions from each house must be
completed by the Group Organiser to ensure appropriate grants may be
allocated.  The group must open an account in a local bank in the
names of the trustees appointed by the members, lodging the cash
collections to start the account.  Subsequently, all Local Authority
grants are paid direct into this account.

6.      Construction Works can commence once the Local Authority has
confirmed the total grant being issued to the group, the necessary
road opening licence from the County Council is granted and the
necessary insurances have been taken out.  Grants are paid in
instalments pro-rata with the rate of progress in the scheme.  Final
grant is paid once the Water Services Department confirms that all
works are complete in a satisfactory manner.

7.      The maintenance and operation of the scheme once completed will be
the responsibility of the Group Scheme.

It should be noted that funding under the rural water programme is
generally made available in March of each year with a requirement for
all works associated with a successful scheme to be completed and
funding claimed by November. This is a narrow timeframe to carry out
steps 1-7 above for the size of scheme in question. To progress a
scheme of this nature, steps 1-5 would have to be carried out 12
months in advance of any construction works. Under this scenario, the
group scheme would have to cover the costs associated with steps 1-5
without any guarantee of funding being allocated to proceed to
construction.

It should further be noted that grants of the size required to carry
out the works you propose for the Lurriga/Ballybanogue area have not
been made available to Limerick County Council in the past under group
sewerage schemes.