Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of wastewater treatment plants in east Galway. Deputy Cannon raised this with me last week, particularly in relation to Craughwell and Clarinbridge. A new funding stream was launched by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, in April under the multi-annual rural water programme for the wastewater collection and treatment needs of villages and small settlements without access to public wastewater services. All rural local authorities were asked to submit suitable applications for funding for two priority locations by 15 September of last year. Twenty or so schemes came in from across the country and an independent expert panel critically evaluated each of the applications received. Based on a report from the panel, a decision on funding will be made by the Minister shortly. I checked with him this morning and he indicated to me that he should be able to make a decision within the next few weeks but certainly no later than the end of the year. Once the decision is made, local authorities will be notified of the outcome of their applications.

From a broader Government point of view, we believe small towns and small villages have a role to play when it comes to relieving the housing crisis and indeed in providing much-needed housing for an increased population and our growing economy. That can be done in two ways: first, ensuring villages have the infrastructure they need to allow for natural expansion, with maybe a few new houses being built every year and serviced sites being provided to people close to the village; and second, through the Croí Cónaithe fund and the grants we are offering people to take on vacant or derelict buildings, refurbish them and bring them back into use. We can do two things here, namely, breathe life back into old buildings and turn them into homes, and also provide for a small limited amount of natural increase by investing in infrastructure so that every small town and village can grow and make a contribution to what we need to do to alleviate the housing crisis.

See this speech in context