Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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435. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the funding will be announced for the Multi Annual Water Programme 2024-2026; when funding will be announced for projects (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29705/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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In January this year local authorities were invited to submit applications for funding under my Department’s Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2024-2026 (MARWP) with a closing date of 12 April 2024.

An Expert Panel has been put in place to support the application evaluation process. In addition to providing an expert perspective, the Panel brings independence, openness and transparency to the process which is done on a national prioritised basis. The Panel’s membership includes Departmental, stakeholder and independent representation.

The Panel will make recommendations to my Department on the suitability of schemes/projects for funding, including on those listed in the details supplied. The recommendations will be based on objective criteria which are set out in the Framework document issued to local authorities when proposals under the MARWP were sought.

Once the Panel presents its report, my Department will then consider their recommendations, and based on these, will propose allocations for my consideration as Minister. I expect this process to be completed late in Q3 2024.