Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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632. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when he will seek bids for group sewerage schemes under the three-year Rural Water Programme 2019 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46934/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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In April 2018, I established a Working Group to conduct a review of the wider investment needs relating to rural water services. The group's aim is to recommend measures to ensure an equality of outcome between those who receive water services from Irish Water and non-Irish Water customers.

The terms of reference of the review provide for a two-strand approach. Strand 1 is considering the composition and distribution of funding for the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme from 2019 up to 2021. Strand 2 is considering the more complex longer-focus issues surrounding the long-term future resourcing of the Rural Water Sector.

The Working Group is currently finalising a report to me on Strand 1 of its deliberations. This report will make recommendations on the measures to be funded for the next cycle of the Rural Water Programme. Following my consideration of these recommendations, I expect to announce details of the programme priorities and the invitation to submit bids should issue to local authorities before year end.