Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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299. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she has considered ring-fenced funding for wastewater treatment plants for offshore islands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25467/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is currently finalising a new National Islands Policy. This policy will set out the Government's vision for supporting and sustaining our island communities.

The responsibility for funding of water and wastewater infrastructure is within the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, while Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels.

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is represented on the Inter-Departmental Committee which has been overseeing the development of the islands policy. In addition, officials from my Department have engaged bilaterally with officials in that Department and in Uisce Éireann to agree commitments for the policy and its accompanying action plan, which is currently being finalised.