1786. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage with regard to current grant aid available for pipe laying under a group water scheme of €15,000 per home, when this grant cap was last reviewed; whether this grant is the same irrespective of terrain over which the pipe has to be laid; whether he accepts that laying a pipe in granite rock terrain is more expensive than in areas of clay soils without rock outcrop; whether a higher grant might be consider in such areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60240/26]

Ahead of the launch of the Capital Funding Programme for the Rural Water Sector 2027–2029, my Department reviewed the maximum grant available to Group Schemes and increased it from €15,000 to €20,000 per household served. This increased maximum applies to the new Programme, which opened for applications on 27 July 2026.

The €20,000 maximum is cumulative per household across funding measures under the Programme. Funding for individual projects is assessed having regard to the cost, need, value for money and deliverability of the proposed works.

The maximum grant applies irrespective of the terrain or ground conditions over which the pipe is to be laid, and there is no provision under the Programme to increase the maximum grant based on the terrain.