Councils urged to avail of €50m wastewater scheme for rural villages

The Government has announced a €50 million scheme to help meet the wastewater collection and treatment needs of villages and settlements that don't have access to public wastewater services.

Westmeath Minister of State Peter Burke today (Thursday) outlined details of the initiative, which is funded by a €50 million commitment under the National Development Plan.

The announcement follows the completion of a review of villages and settlements that have no access to public wastewater infrastructure. This work included consultation with stakeholders and a detailed survey, completed by local authorities, of villages and settlements in their area not serviced by wastewater collection and treatment.

The scheme will now open to local authorities, and will stay open for applications until September 15 next.

An information workshop for local authorities is also planned in relation to the scheme, which will be included in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage's multi-annual Rural Water Programme, 2022-2025.

It is expected that at least ten demonstration projects across the country will be supported under this first round of funding.

"The improved waste water services will enable local authorities to work in partnership with the community to enable villages and settlements to be better places to live, work and visit," said Minister of State Burke.

The new measure will provide 85% exchequer funding through the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with the remaining 15% in funding coming from the relevant local authority.

"I am delighted to be in a position to allocate funding to allow this important work to be progressed in rural areas, providing a boost to local economies and allowing for sustainable development through compact growth, including housing that is proportionate to the village," added the Minister.