452. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider funding phase 2 of a specific water, wastewater project in County Cork (details supplied) under the untreated wastewater for rural areas package or any other scheme that might be appropriate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29905/24]

On 7 December 2023, I announced the successful applications that are approved funding under the waste water collection and treatment needs of villages without access to public waste water services measure of my Department's Multi-annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP).

My Department has written to each of the local authorities that submitted applications for funding advising of the decisions made including to Cork County Council for the project named in the details supplied.

With regard to our rural communities, my Department is committed to support take-up of Uisce Éireann’s Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme to provide water and waste water growth capacity in smaller settlements and also to continued non-Uisce Éireann investment in rural water infrastructure.

The administration of my Department's MARWP is devolved to local authorities. Each local authority has a Rural Water Liaison Officer who deals with the day to day administration of the MARWP and can be contacted directly at the local authority concerned, in this case Cork County Council.