Hundreds of hard-hit Mayo householders to benefit from rural water boost

A Mayo TD has welcomed the launch of the next cycle of the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme which covers three years from 2024 to 2026 and will benefit hundreds of householders in the county.

Deputy Alan Dillon expressed his satisfaction with the announcement, highlighting the substantial rise in the maximum grant available to each household, which has increased from €9,000 to €15,000..

It provides for €125 million of capital investment in rural water infrastructure under eight different funding measures.

Local authorities are invited to submit applications for funding from now until the closing date of 12 April 2024.

Deputy Dillon said he had campaigned over the past two years for the publication of this new cycle.

He stated: “I am delighted that finally up to 500 households in various villages such as Carrowtigue, Porturlin, Portacloy and Shrataggle in north Mayo will get the opportunity to get domestic running water as well as areas such as Lisduff and Cleragh, near Kiltimagh in east Mayo.

"These people are desperate to avail of a new community water connection having lived for some time without running water.

"They are sometimes dealing with condemned wells and are prevented from using water for both drinking and domestic purposes.

"Their heating systems cannot reach the required temperature because they are clogged with material from bogs.”

“This programme is of vital importance in helping to provide safe and secure water services to rural areas that do not have access to Uisce Éireann services.

‘I am also pleased to see that there are improvements to the scheme with a €6,000 increase in grants for householders and a dedicated funding measure for group water schemes to amalgamate and/or rationalise, supporting their sustainability and improved water quality for consumers into the future.

"The department will meet with local authorities in the coming weeks and will organise workshops to support them in the preparation of their submissions for villages and communities without a domestic water connection.

‘Following many delays, Mayo County Council will now be invited to submit their requests to the scheme and we can advance the connections for these areas across the county.”