794. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the review of the qualifying criteria for well-water grants administered through local authorities; if an instruction can be issued to allow for the inclusion of applications for premises that are soon to be lived in following renovation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34230/24]

My Department provides grant funding to assist households in rural areas that are dependent on a private water supply (individual well) for their household use. The objective of the grants, which are administered by the local authorities, is to assist households dependent on private individual water supplies who are incurring capital expenditure.

An applicant may be eligible for a grant if, in the opinion of the local authority, the house is to be occupied by the applicant as their normal place of residence when the work is completed.

Each local authority has a Rural Water Liaison Officer with responsibility for the administration of the grant schemes in their area who can be contacted directly to clarify the position in relation to an individual application.