James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and providing me with the opportunity to address the matter on behalf of the Minister.

I confirm that the Department’s multi-annual rural water programme, through Exchequer funding, delivers improvements to water services in areas of rural Ireland where there are no public water services. The programme provides capital funding aimed at improving the quality, reliability and efficiency of rural water services infrastructure. The bulk of funding is spent on the improvement of water quality in group water schemes and individual wells, with more limited funding provided for group sewerage schemes and domestic wastewater treatment systems, mostly septic tanks. The day-to-day administration of the multi-annual programme is devolved to the local authorities. To date under the current multi-annual programme, more than €74 million has been provided to fund projects. Local authorities have recouped almost €36 million from the Department for these projects to date. More than half of the 700 individual projects allocated funding under the programme are completed to date.

In respect of the new multi-annual rural water programme, the Department is currently working to finalise the framework documentation. A steering group, the rural water working group, is tasked with overseeing the launch and management of the programme. The work required to finalise the composition of the specific measures in the programme will be completed shortly and a report will be sent to the Minister. When he has had an opportunity to consider the report, I expect he will announce details of the programme and its priorities. Local authorities will then be invited to submit applications for funding for priority projects in their areas. An expert panel will then critically evaluate all applications and a report will be submitted to the Minister for consideration and approval later this year. All local authorities have been advised to engage with groups in their functional areas to prepare requests for funding for the upcoming programme, while continuing to manage the current programme. In April 2022, funding for a new €50 million measure, an advanced element under the multi-annual rural water programme for the wastewater collection and treatment needs of villages and settlements without access to public wastewater services was announced. Local authorities have submitted priority applications for funding under this scheme. Each application has been evaluated by an independent expert panel and funding for specific projects will be announced shortly.

Funding is provided on a multi-annual three-year cycle to provide funding certainty to the rural water sector, which allows the programme to meet the emerging demands and increases effective planning. The multi-annual approach also helps to address environmental and public health compliance in the existing group water schemes; incorporates mechanisms to protect, maintain and enhance rural water assets; and establishes a structure to fund new group water schemes into the future. Capital expenditure under the multi-annual rural water programme was €20.76 million in 2022. The €35 million allocated for 2023 contains €10 million for the new measure for the wastewater needs of rural villages without access to public wastewater services. The programme is consumer focused and achieves its aims by helping group water schemes to achieve wholesome, clean drinking water that is safe to drink on a consistent long-term basis by complying with the drinking water regulations. Leakage control is also funded through water conservation and supporting good practices which contributes to reduced costs for energy and consumables. The expansion of piped water supplies and central wastewater collection systems is also facilitated. Funding innovation and research to improve the efficiency of the rural water sector is also supported. The Department is committed to delivering improvements to water services in areas of rural Ireland where there are no public water services.

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