Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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551. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the funding and department supports are available under ‘Measure A8- Waste Water Collection and Treatment Needs for Villages and Settlements without Access to Public Waste Water Services’ of his Department’s Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme 2024-2026 and accompanying circular L1/22; the process for towns and settlements who are looking to apply for funding under this measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34502/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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In December 2023, approval in principle of some €45 million of funding was given pursuant to my Department's Multi-annual Rural Water Programme to a number of projects for the wastewater collection and treatment needs of villages without access to public wastewater services.

Local authorities are responsible for the delivery of these projects and, under the terms of the programme, are designated as co-funders responsible for contributing 15% of total project costs.

The local authorities are required to work in consultation with Uisce Éireann, reflecting the fact that the infrastructure being built will ultimately fall to be owned and operated by Uisce Éireann.

In respect of the projects approved funding in principle, there has been significant follow-up engagement between the local authorities concerned and Uisce Éireann allowing them to collectively confirm the most efficient construction options and to provide certainty to the local authorities on the funding contribution required from them for each project.

Decisions on the next steps will be made when the local authorities confirm that all of the necessary arrangements are in place.

The Measure A8- Wastewater Collection and Treatment Needs for Villages and Settlements without Access to Public Wastewater Services scheme was designed to support demonstration projects and progress with this portfolio of projects will inform a longer-term strategic approach to the issue of wastewater infrastructure in small villages not currently served by Uisce Éireann.