Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Conway for raising this important issue. I know the impact and the importance of this type of critical investment in wastewater treatment for the very reasons he has outlined that are important to his communities in Clare relating to the future sustainable development and growth of towns and villages. I am responding on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, who unfortunately is not able to be here today.

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage builds its water services strategic policy and infrastructure improvement delivery programmes around Project Ireland 2040, the water services policy statement and the river basin management plan.

The Department's multi-annual rural water programme, using Exchequer funding, is delivering improvements to water services, including wastewater, in areas of rural Ireland without public water services. The strategic objective of the multi-annual programme, through its various funding measures, is to improve the quality, reliability and efficiency of water services for rural dwellers where public water services are not available.

In April 2022, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, launched a new scheme for the wastewater collection and treatment needs of villages and settlements without access to public wastewater services. An allocation of €50 million has been committed under the national development plan to fund the scheme.

The principal aim of the scheme is to provide an opportunity for local authorities to take an innovative approach to address environmental and public health issues in locations of need, across the country, on a prioritised basis. The first round of funding is intended to follow a demonstration project model approach that will inform the development of longer-term strategies for the future funding needs of villages and settlements where public water services are not available.

All rural local authorities were asked to submit suitable applications for funding for two priority locations, with the deadline being 15 September 2022, as outlined by Senator Conway. An independent expert panel was tasked with critically evaluating each of the applications received and making recommendations to the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, for funding. The panel is independently chaired and membership includes the Environmental Protection Agency and Uisce Éireann. In addition to providing an expert perspective, the panel brings independence, openness and transparency to the bids evaluation process.

I am told that the panel has evaluated all aspects of applications received and, based on a report from the panel, a decision on funding will be made by the Minister shortly. Local authorities will then be notified of the outcome of their applications. Unfortunately, I am not able to give Senator Conway a specific timeline, but the panel has evaluated all aspects of applications received and its report will form the basis of the Minister's decision on funding. We are told it will happen shortly.