Written answers

Thursday, 9 March 2023

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Wastewater Treatment

Photo of Michael MoynihanMichael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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112. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the measures he is taking to address the wastewater needs of rural villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11756/23]

Photo of Seán CanneySeán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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122. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will increase funding to develop water treatment plants for towns and villages; if he will provide funding to allow existing waste water treatment plants in private estates to be taken in charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11923/23]

Photo of Cathal CroweCathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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154. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide an update on a pilot scheme to provide sewage systems to rural villages. [11543/23]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 112, 122 and 154 together.

The Programme for Government supports the uptake of Uisce Éireann's Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme 2020-2024, to provide water and waste water growth capacity in smaller settlements that would otherwise not be provided for in Uisce Éireann's capital investment plan.

I understand that funding of almost €100 million has been approved by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities for this. Across the country Uisce Éireann is working with local authorities to ensure that the investment supports the growth of identified settlements, as prioritised in local authority development plans.

My Department’s Multi-annual Rural Water Programme, using Exchequer funding, is also delivering improvements to water services, including waste water, in areas of rural Ireland without public water services.

On 28 April 2022 I announced funding for a new 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.

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. The first round of funding will follow a demonstration project model approach and 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.

The closing date for receipt of applications was 15 September 2022. An independent Expert Panel is currently evaluating all valid applications and based on the report from the Panel, recommendations for funding will be made shortly.

In addition, funding of €68.5 million has been allocated, under the National Development Plan, for the period 2021-2025, to address legacy water services issues including the Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme (DPI).

The DPI programme is focused on housing estates which do not have their water services connected to the public (Uisce Éireann) network and are not in the charge of local authorities but rely instead on infrastructure provided by developers. The DPI programme provides funding for the progressive resolution of the issues involved.

The focus of the first tranches of funding is on estates where the resolution is to connect their water services to the public networks. Additionally, a study completed by Uisce Éireann in 2022, will inform and assist in developing further policy solutions for estates that, due to distance, it is not viable to connect them to the public network.

Although it will take a number of funding programmes, my Department and I are committed to resolving all DPI issues.

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