Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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273. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has had discussions with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government and or Irish Water on the provision of public sewerage services on the islands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50514/19]

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, my Department is leading the consultation process to inform the preparation of a new cross-government National Policy for the Islands.

I can confirm to the Deputy that the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government has, in its initial submission to my Department as part of the consultation process, referred to the funding arrangements for domestic wastewater treatment needs on the islands, mostly provided by means of septic tanks. The Department has referred to this in the context of its Rural Water Programme and the flexibility of the scheme to cover potentially higher costs on the islands.

Following consultation with the island communities over the coming months, my Department will be holding bilateral meetings, to discuss issues raised, with all of the relevant Government Departments and other stakeholders, including the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.