Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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250. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will be expanding the €50 million scheme providing funding for water services’ infrastructure in rural villages that currently are outside Irish Water’s investment programmes; if he has received an application in respect of Carrigaholt, Cooraclare and Doolin, County Clare; if he will consider their inclusion in any expanded scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31810/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I announced funding on 28 April 2022 for a new funding measure under the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme 2022-2025, for the Waste Water Collection and Treatment needs of Villages and Settlements that do not have access to public waste water services. Details of the announcement can be found at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/press-release/f2fa6-minister-obrien-announces-50-million-in-funding-to-improve-the-waste-water-needs-of-rural-villages/.

An allocation of €50 million has been committed under the National Development Plan for the new measure, which will focus on areas of most need based on housing and environmental criteria. It is expected that at least ten demonstration projects will be supported under this first round of funding. The demonstration project model will allow for the development of appropriate longer-term strategies, protocols and better inform future funding needs for the progressive development of public waste water collection and treatment infrastructure in villages/settlements that are currently without these services.

Details of the scheme, including terms and conditions and the relevant accompanying documents are available at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/a524a-group-water-schemes-and-rural-water-issues/#waste-water-collection-and-treatment-needs-for-villages-and-settlements-without-access-to-public-waste-water-services.

It is now open to all local authorities to submit applications for funding and I would strongly encourage them to do so. Completed applications should be submitted in advance of the deadline of 15 September 2022.

My Department has not yet received any applications as the scheme was only launched recently.  It is a matter for Clare County Council to decide which villages or settlements meet the criteria set out in the framework.