Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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347. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on the long-term impact of the charge of €30 per square metre that Transport Infrastructure Ireland has introduced for each square metre of road carriageway opened; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this cost does not qualify for grant assistance from his Department; if his attention has been further drawn to the significant financial burden that this is placing on group water schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38240/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Road Management Office (RMO), a local authority shared service, was set up in late 2014 following development of a business case by the local authority sector. Its set-up followed approval by the Public Services Reform Oversight Group, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and the award of the shared service to a consortium of Donegal, Cork County, Cork City, Kerry and Tipperary local authorities.

The RMO’s current functions include developing and providing supports to local authorities in the progressive development of best practice and supporting ICT tools for road pavement management and road opening licensing.

My Department is aware of the Long Term Impact Charge which is now a component of the road opening licensing charge. My Department is currently engaging with the RMO and the County and City Management Association (CCMA) on the issue of its cost impacts for the rural water sector.

I also understand that the National Federation of Group Water Schemes, the representative organisation for group water schemes, is aware of the matter and is similarly engaging with the RMO and the CCMA through the relevant forum.