I propose to take Questions Nos. 260 and 261 together.
I launched the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2024-2026 (MARWP 2024-2026) on 17 January 2024. Local authorities have been invited to submit applications for funding for priority projects in their areas with a closing date of 12 April 2024.
The core purpose of the MARWP 2024-2026 is to provide the necessary funding to address infrastructure deficits that are having an impact on the provision of safe and secure drinking water supplies for rural dwellers, where public Uisce Éireann water services are not available. Significant capital funding of €175m is committed to the MARWP under the National Development Plan.
Under MARWP 2024-2026 there are eight individual funding measures and each is directed at a specific activity e.g. source protection, water treatment, network improvement. The funding measures available are broadly in line with those provided under the previous Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme.
Experience from previous cycles of the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme have shown that projects of a small scale under Measure A7 have been at a very high unit cost. Setting a minimum number of houses is necessary in order to benefit from economies of scale and to ensure that such projects are viable.
I have no plans to introduce a national scheme to bring mains water to all the houses in the State without such a supply.
