Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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1598. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when a group water scheme is temporarily unavailable due to contamination where does the responsibility to provide water tanks rest; the considerations that are taken into account or criteria that must be met; and the way a community or group can request the provision of them. [43072/25]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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1599. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the supports available to group water schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43091/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1598 and 1599 together.

Group Water Schemes (GWS) are community-owned and community-run organisations supplying drinking water to their members.

My Department's Rural Water Programme provides funding to the Rural Water Sector.

An annual subsidy is available under the Programme to support the operational and management costs of group water schemes providing water for domestic use.

The Multi-annual Rural Water Programme is the main funding stream providing capital funding to address the challenges faced by the Sector including to group water schemes.

Where a group water scheme has a water contamination issue it is a matter for them as service provider to, in the first instance, consider putting in place temporary supply solutions for which there may be range of options including water tankers.

The administration of the Programme is devolved to local authorities. Each local authority has a Rural Water Liaison Officer who deals with the day to day administration of the Programme who can provide specific information on scheme issues.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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1600. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide details on the number of group water schemes that exist in each county annually for the past ten years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43093/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Group water schemes are community-owned and community-run organisations supplying drinking water to their members. My Department does not compile the information sought on these schemes.

My Department's Rural Water Programme provides funding to the Rural Water Sector including to group water schemes.

The administration of the Programme is devolved to local authorities. Each local authority has a Rural Water Liaison Officer who deals with the day to day administration of the Programme and is best placed to provide the information sought.