Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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48. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the steps he is taking to address the issue of legacy debt in rural group water schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17103/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I assume that the Question is referring to legacy debt issues where group water schemes are seeking to be taken in charge by Irish Water.

Group water schemes are community-owned and community-run and they remain fully the responsibility of the scheme right up until such time as they are formally taken in charge by Irish Water.

Irish Water and the local authority are actively working to resolve the issues around debt in some schemes and this also requires goodwill and a proactive approach by the schemes involved.

An annual subsidy is available from my Department via the local authorities. This subsidy funds and supports the maintenance and operation costs of schemes providing water for domestic use, thus facilitating their upkeep until they are taken in charge.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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49. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when strand 2 of the Rural Water Working Group will begin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17104/22]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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50. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will publish strand 1 of the Rural Water Working Group as soon as it is finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17105/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 50 together.

In April 2018, a Working Group was established to conduct a review of the wider investment needs relating to rural water services. The aim of the group is to recommend measures that ensure an equality of outcome between those who receive water services from Irish Water and non-Irish Water customers. The terms of reference for the review provide for a two-strand approach. Strand 1 is considering the composition and distribution of funding for the upcoming Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme. Strand 2 is considering the more complex longer-focus issues surrounding the long-term future resourcing of the Rural Water Sector.

While Strand 2 of the considerations by the Working Group is underway, deliberations on Strand 1 are currently being finalised. Strand 1 work will be completed in the coming weeks, with recommendations on the measures to be considered for funding under the upcoming multi-annual programme. Once I have had an opportunity to consider these recommendations, I expect to announce details of the programme priorities and an invitation to local authorities to submit bids will follow. An Expert Panel will evaluate all appropriate bids received and the recommendations of the Panel will then be submitted for my consideration and approval later this year.