Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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673. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the estimated cost in 2019 if the budget for the rural water programme increased by 15%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53372/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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A capital funding provision of €23 million has been made in my Department for the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme for 2019. This, in fact, represents a 15% increase on the funding provision of €20 million for 2018. Under the National Development Plan 2018-2027, provision is made for a capital funding commitment of €95m for the Programme for the period 2018-2021.

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 provide for an equality in outcomes 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 was to consider the composition and distribution of funding for the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2019-2021. Strand 2 is considering the more complex longer-focus issues surrounding the long-term future resourcing of the Rural Water Sector.

I received a report on Strand 1 of the Working Group's deliberations on 30 November 2018. Following my consideration of its recommendations, I expect to announce details of the programme priorities for the 2019 to 2021 funding cycle shortly.