Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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320. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will review the eligibility criteria under the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP) 2024–2026 to allow communities with fewer than 25 houses, such as Glensaul, Tourmakeady, County Mayo, to access funding for community water connections; and if he will consider the urgent health and safety concerns for residents who currently rely on makeshift river connections for water supply despite being located less than 0.5 miles from the Lough Mask Uisce Éireann network. [68626/25]

Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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321. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to outline the full eligibility criteria for each measure under the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP) 2024–2026, with particular reference to the minimum number of houses required for new community water connections; and whether any exceptions apply in cases of public health risk. [68627/25]

Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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323. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if new applications for funding under the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme are currently being accepted; if not, when the next application window will open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68629/25]

Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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324. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the framework for the next Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme beyond 2026 will be published; and if he will ensure that the new programme addresses the needs of smaller rural communities that do not meet the current eligibility threshold. [68630/25]

Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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325. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will introduce an exceptional case mechanism within the MARWP to allow funding for communities with fewer than 25 houses where there is a significant health and safety risk and proximity to an existing Uisce Éireann network. [68631/25]

Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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327. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the alternative supports or emergency measures that are available for rural households that cannot access MARWP funding due to the 25-house minimum requirement. [68633/25]

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 320, 321, 323, 324, 325 and 327 together.

The current cycle of the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP) covers the period 2024–2026. The Programme Framework, which sets out the eligibility criteria for each funding measure, is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/circular/a2436-circular-l124-multi-annual-rural-water-programme-2024-2026-applications-for-funding/.

Under the MARWP 2024- 2026, a number of individual measures support specific rural water activities including source protection, water treatment, network improvement, and Community Water Connections (Measure A7), where these are technically and economically viable.

For Community Water Connections, a minimum threshold of 25 households is required to ensure that projects are viable and represent value for money. Very small-scale schemes result in disproportionately high per-household costs and are not sustainable in the long term. I have no plans to change this requirement.

It is important to note that the MARWP already provides a mechanism to address exceptional or urgent needs. Local authorities may apply to my Department at any time for emergency or once-off funding where exceptional circumstances arise; it is not necessary to await the next Programme cycle.

In addition, my Department also provides private well grants to support improvement works to individual rural water supplies.

Further information is available here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/private-wells/.

Extensive preparatory work has been undertaken and continues on the next Programme, which will run from 2027 to 2029. Applications will be sought in mid-2026, a significant improvement on previous cycles where applications were only invited at the start of a new cycle of the Programme. This change allows for earlier engagement, better planning, and a seamless transition when the new Programme begins in 2027.

I remain committed to ensuring that funding, including under the next Programme, continues to support the needs of rural communities.

Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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322. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide an update on the current stage of the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme 2024–2026; the number of projects approved; the total funding allocated to date; and the measures still under consideration. [68628/25]

Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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326. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to publish a breakdown of funding allocations under the MARWP 2024–2026, by county and measure; and to confirm whether any unallocated funds remain available for urgent cases. [68632/25]

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 322 and 326 together.

The Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP) 2024–2026 is the primary capital funding stream addressing the challenges faced by the Rural Water Sector, particularly group water schemes. Its main focus is ensuring the supply of safe drinking water to existing households.

There are nine funding measures under this cycle of MARWP covering the period 2024 to 2026. To date, over €180.5 million has been allocated to more than 550 individual projects across these measures.

The Expert Panel, which is tasked with assessing all applications under MARWP 2024–2026, has concluded its assessment of the remaining 30 complex applications, which represent the last of all applications received. An announcement on these projects is expected shortly.

It is important to note that the MARWP already provides a mechanism to address exceptional or urgent needs. Local authorities may apply to my Department at any time for emergency or once-off funding where exceptional circumstances arise; it is not necessary to await the next Programme cycle.

The Framework document sets out procedures for urgent/emergency cases and is available at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/circulars/circular-l124-multi-annual-rural-water-programme-2024-2026-applications-for-funding/.

Information on funding allocations, by measure and county, is published following each approval phase and can be found at:

www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/press-releases/minister-obrien-announces-capital-investment-funding-for-rural-water-services/.

www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/press-releases/minister-browne-announces-74-million-capital-investment-funding-for-rural-water-services/.

www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/press-releases/minister-browne-approves-additional-funding-of-143-million-for-wastewater-improvements-in-local-communities/.