Written answers

Tuesday, 28 September 2021

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Wastewater Treatment

Photo of Cathal CroweCathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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101. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the way his Department in conjunction with Irish Water plans to provide modern sewage infrastructure to villages lacking sewerage facilities in County Clare. [46387/21]

Photo of Malcolm NoonanMalcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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As with my reply to Deputy Canney, both Minister O’Brien and I are aware of the demand for waste water infrastructure in towns and villages where there is no access to public infrastructure in County Clare, and indeed in other areas around the country. In fact, I understand that on 27 August last, Minister O’Brien visited the village of Broadford in Clare and spoke to residents on this very issue. He has also met with Oireachtas members from the constituency to discuss the matter on numerous occasions and he is fully committed to finding a suitable solution for the people of Broadford.

My Department builds its strategic water policy and infrastructure delivery programmes around the National Planning Framework 2018-2040 and the National Development Plan 2018-2027. Investment is primarily delivered through Irish Water while my Department operates the Rural Water Programme directly.

The Programme for Government supports the uptake of Irish Water's Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme 2020-2024, which will provide water and waste water growth capacity in smaller settlements that would otherwise not be provided for in Irish Water's capital investment plan.

Complementary to Irish Water’s Programme, my Department is currently examining waste water requirements in the context of villages and settlements that do not have public waste water infrastructure. As mentioned, Minister O’Brien has instructed the relevant officials in the Department to prepare a report on this topic at national level. This report will include the analysis of a baseline survey of all rural local authorities to quantify and qualify the number of villages and settlements concerned. This process is at an advanced stage, and Minister O'Brien will be in a position to consider the matter further in relation to these villages and similar settlements, as identified in the survey, once he has received the final report.

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