Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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1217.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide funding for Uisce éireann for the urgent progression and development of wastewater treatment plants identified under the small towns and villages for growth programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33693/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government supports the uptake of Uisce éireann's Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme (STVGP), which will provide growth capacity in smaller settlements that would otherwise not be provided for in Uisce éireann’s capital investment plan.

An allocation of almost €100 million for this programme was approved by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities. Uisce éireann is working with local authorities across the country in ensuring the investment supports the growth of identified settlements where these are prioritised in line with the local authority development plans.

The STVGP was launched in summer 2021 and 39 projects have been confirmed to be delivered through the programme nationally to date.

The delivery of capital projects is not dependent solely on funding and resources. Uisce éireann must comply with the planning and consenting regime and as a body in receipt of public funding, with the relevant requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines. While Uisce éireann allocates the necessary funding and resources to projects, it takes on average around 5-7 years to bring a wastewater project through from selection to completion.

Uisce éireann continues to work with local authorities across the country in ensuring the investment supports the growth of identified settlements where these are prioritised in line with the local authority development plans.

Uisce éireann provides regular programme updates on it's website, which includes a list of the projects and their status -

www.water.ie/projects/national-projects/small-towns-villages-growth-programme

Uisce éireann has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 0818 578 578.