Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2021
251. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on a submission received by his Department on 15 June 2021 from Clare County Council in relation to a proposed pilot waste water scheme for the village of Broadford, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36518/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the submission to which the Deputy is referring to.
My Department builds its strategic water policy and infrastructure delivery programmes around the National Planning Framework 2018-2040 and the National Development Plan 2018-2027.
Investment is primarily delivered through Irish Water while my Department operates the Rural Water Programme directly. The Programme for Government supports the uptake of Irish Water's Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme 2020-2024, which will provide water and wastewater growth capacity in smaller settlements that would otherwise not be provided for in Irish Water's capital investment plan.
Complementary to Irish Water’s Programme, my Department is currently examining wastewater requirements in the context of villages and similar settlements that do not have access to public wastewater infrastructure.
I have instructed the relevant officials in my Department to prepare a report on this topic at national level. This report will include the analysis of a baseline survey of all rural local authorities to quantify and qualify the number of villages and similar settlements concerned.
This process is at an advanced stage, and I will be in a position to consider the matter further in relation to these villages and similar settlements identified in the survey once I have received the final report.
