Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 October 2022
274. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the grants available for those who have no choice but to put in a private well due to a lack of water supply (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48095/22]
View answer281. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports in place for those with no access to running water (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48151/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 274 and 281 together.
My Department cannot give advice on the specific individual situations outlined in the details supplied.
However, I can advise that my Department’s Rural Water Programme, through Exchequer funding, delivers improvements to water services in areas of rural Ireland where there are no public (Irish Water) services.
Grant assistance is available, through local authorities, under the Programme for Individual Private Water Supplies (domestic wells) to a house. The grant, subject to certain conditions, assists households dependent on these supplies with the costs incurred in providing such a supply of water for domestic purposes or rectifying serious deficiencies with an existing supply. Further information on the grant scheme is available from my Department's website at the link below.
www.housing.gov.ie/water/water-services/rural-water-programme/private-wells.
In addition, a working group - the Rural Water Working Group - is considering the composition of the measures for inclusion for funding, including Community Water Connections, under the upcoming Multi-annual Rural Water Programme. Once I have had an opportunity to consider their report, I expect to announce details of the programme priorities and an invitation to local authorities, to submit bids will follow later this year.
Each local authority has appointed a Rural Water Liaison Officer who deals with the day to day implementation issues for the Programme. The officer can be contacted at the Rural Water Section of the relevant local authority, in this case Mayo County Council.
