Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department’s Multi-annual Rural Water Programme, through Exchequer funding, delivers improvements to water services in areas of rural Ireland where there are no public water services.

A working group – the Rural Water Working Group - is considering the composition of the measures for inclusion for funding under the upcoming multi-annual programme. Once I have had an opportunity to consider their report, I expect to announce details of the programme priorities and an invitation to local authorities, including Longford County Council, to submit bids will follow later this year.

The organisers of the proposed Community Water Connection referred to in the details supplied should continue to liaise with the local authority on their proposal and can submit it to them as part of the bids process. It is then a matter for the authority to consider it. The local authority can submit it to my Department as part of their bids if they consider it to be technically and economically viable.

Following the receipt of bids, an Expert Panel will evaluate all valid bids and based on the recommendations of the Panel a report will be submitted for my consideration and approval later this year.

My Department is responsible for policy while the day to day management of the multi-annual programme is devolved to the local authorities. Each local authority has appointed a Rural Water Liaison Officer (RWLO). The RWLO deals with the day to day issues for the programme and can be contacted at the local authority offices.