Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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497. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will ensure housing estates in non-rural areas that are not connected to the sewerage network are considered for inclusion under the review of the multi-annual rural water programme; if he intends to expand the programme beyond rural locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63706/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the Question refers to housing estates that are dependent on developer-provided water services infrastructure for the provision of their water services.

My Department operates a multi-annual programme, the Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme (DPI), to provide funding for the progressive resolution of housing estates with legacy developer provided water services infrastructure to enable the taking in charge of these estates.

Funding of €68.5 million under the National Development Plan has been allocated for the period 2021-2025 for legacy water services issues in relation to the DPI and lead pipe remediation.

The multi-annual programme is focused on housing estates which are not taken in charge by local authorities and do not have their water services connected to the public (Uisce Éireann) network, but rely instead on infrastructure, often temporary in nature, which was provided by developers. The focus of the first tranches of funding is on estates in towns and villages where the resolution is to connect their water services to the public networks.

A study has been recently completed by Uisce Éireann to develop optimum solutions for estates with legacy developer provided water services infrastructure. This study will help my Department with developing policy solutions.

It will take a number of funding programmes to fully resolve estates with developer provided water services infrastructure, however, my Department is committed to progressing the taking in charge of these legacy estates through increased funding over the coming years.