Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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257. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will intervene to ensure that the application made by an organisation (details supplied) under the multi-annual rural water programme 2024-2026 is prioritised on the basis that it has grown far beyond the scale it was initially established for and now also includes a medical centre and sewage treatment plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40227/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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In January this year, I launched the next cycle of the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP) for the period 2024 to 2026.

The MARWP is the main funding stream providing capital funding to address the challenges faced by Group Water Schemes in maintaining, renewing and developing their systems and networks.

The overall purpose of the MARWP, and other grants available under the Rural Water Programme, is to provide the necessary funding to improve the quality, quantity and reliability of the water services relied upon by rural dwellers, where public water services are not available.

An Expert Panel is currently looking at the specifics of each funding request received under the MARWP and is tasked with making recommendations on the suitability of individual projects for funding. Under an independent Chairperson, the Panel’s membership includes experts from the key stakeholders in the Rural Water Sector.

I expect to receive the recommendations of the Panel and approve funding in the coming weeks.