Last April, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, made a welcome announcement of €50 million allocation for the development of new wastewater treatment facilities in rural towns and villages. Each local authority was asked to make a submission outlining its priority projects for that funding. One such priority project outlined by Galway County Council is for the village of Craughwell. It is a perfect example of the kind of investment needed to allow this what is now essentially a town to grow and expand and to provide new housing for the many young families in the area. It is a very attractive place to live in as a commuter town for Galway city and its development is essentially stifled right now. It is put on pause until such time as this plant is put in place.

Two private independent plants are malfunctioning and creating huge issues for the residents of two estates in Craughwell. It is reflective of many rural towns and villages throughout the country. Almost a year later, when will funding under the scheme be announced?

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue in Craughwell, County Galway. We want to invest in our towns and villages so that every town and village can have a certain amount of natural growth. It is important that we facilitate that. As the Deputy acknowledged, €50 million in funding has been provided specifically for wastewater collection and treatment needs in villages and settlements without access to public wastewater services. Submissions have been made from Craughwell and Clarinbridge, which were sent by the Department to the EPA and Uisce Éireann last November. I am advised that the EPA and Uisce Éireann reported back to the Department only last Friday. The expert panel is evaluating the applications, including the assessments from EPA and Uisce Éireann. Based on a report from the panel, recommendations for funding will be submitted to the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, in the near future