In December 2023, approval in principle was given pursuant to my Department's Multi-annual Rural Water Programme to a number of projects under for the waste water collection and treatment needs of villages without access to public waste water services.
Following this approval my Department wrote directly to each local authority advising it of the maximum funding approved for each project and the contribution required from each local authority, which is 15% of the total costs, as set out in the terms of the funding programme.
Local authorities are responsible for the delivery of these projects and are required to work in consultation with Uisce Éireann, reflecting the fact that the infrastructure being built will ultimately fall to be owned and operated by Uisce Éireann.
There has been significant follow-up engagement between the local authorities concerned and Uisce Éireann to allow them to confirm the most efficient construction options and to provide certainty to the local authorities on the funding contribution required from them for each project.
A final decision will be made on the grant of funding when the local authorities confirm that all of the necessary arrangements are in place.
