Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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220. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when local authorities will receive funding (details supplied) to support emergency and planned upgrade works to group water schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33361/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Departments Multi-annual Rural Water Programme provides capital funding under a number of measures to enable group water schemes to resolve infrastructural deficiencies including their taking in charge by Irish Water.

Under the Rural Water Programme an annual subsidy is also payable by local authorities to group water schemes towards their operational and management costs of supplying water for domestic use. An essential requirement of schemes availing of this subsidy is that they actively managing water leakage.

I understand from Clare County Council that the public group water scheme in the details supplied has been in correspondence with the Council since early 2021 regarding supply issues being experienced. Arising from this engagement the scheme, at their own initiative, carried out emergency works to resolve a supply issue. I also understand that the scheme are experiencing water supply disruptions due to issues with the Irish Water service in the area - these matters are outside the control of the scheme.

I also understand that the Council has advised the scheme that their best long term option is to progress a taking in charge application to Irish Water and to apply for funding to do this under the upcoming multi-annual programme.

My Department will be launching a new multi-annual programme later this year and local authorities will be invited to submit bids. This will present an opportunity for Clare County Council to put forward a bid to address any issues affecting the water supply referred to in the question.