183. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on a scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38400/24]

In January this year, I launched the next cycle of the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP) to cover the period 2024 to 2026.

The overall purpose of the MARWP is to provide the necessary funding to improve the quality, quantity and reliability of the water services relied upon by rural dwellers, where public water services are not available.

An Expert Panel is currently looking at the specifics of each application and is tasked with making recommendations on the suitability of individual projects for funding, including for the project mentioned in the details supplied. Under an independent Chairperson, the Panel’s membership includes experts from the key stakeholders in the Rural Water Sector.

I expect to receive the recommendations of the Panel and approve and allocate funding in the coming weeks.