Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 November 2021
42. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to support the development and operation of small sewerage schemes in villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54973/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department builds its strategic water policy and infrastructure delivery programmes around the National Planning Framework 2018-2040 and the National Development Plan 2021-2030. Investment is primarily delivered through Irish Water, while my Department operates the Rural Water Programme directly.
Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Irish Water takes a strategic, nationwide approach to asset planning and investment, and meeting customer requirements. The prioritisation and progression of individual projects and programmes is a matter for determination by Irish Water.
Irish Water continues to improve water services for customers, through the delivery of its capital investment programmes. As part of Budget 2022, I have secured funding of over €1.5 billion to support water services. This includes €1.4 billion in respect of domestic water services provision by Irish Water. In addition, the Programme for Government supports the uptake of Irish Water's Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme 2020-2024, which will provide water and waste water growth capacity in smaller settlements that would otherwise not be provided for in Irish Water's capital investment plan.
Complementary to that Programme, my Department is also currently examining waste water requirements in the context of villages and similar settlements that do not have access to public waste water infrastructure. I have instructed the relevant officials in my Department to prepare a report on this topic at a national level. This process is at an advanced stage, and I will be in a position to consider the matter once I have received the final report.
In addition, my Department’s Multi-annual Rural Water Programme provides capital funding under a number of measures relevant to the Deputy's enquiry on the development of small waste water collection networks that are connected to the Irish Water system. Information on the scope of capital grants and their amounts under the current multi-annual programme were provided to local authorities as part of the bids process under Circular L1/19 on 8 February 2019. The Circular, including the Framework for the Programme, can be found on my Department’s website at this link.
The operation by community-based groups of their own waste water treatment facilities, which are technically more complex than group water scheme treatment facilities, has never been included under the Rural Water Programme. This is because of the difficulties for voluntary groups in managing and maintaining such facilities in the long-term.
In addition, my Department has recently appointed an external consultant to prepare a report on the provision of research and information, to support a review of the wider investment needs relating to the Rural Water Sector. The complete report, which is scheduled to be delivered by the end of 2021, will focus on the governance, supervision, funding and wider investment needs relating to the Rural Water Sector. The report will be used by the Rural Water Working Group, in its considerations of the wider long term objectives and needs of the Sector.
