What is the Rural Water Programme?
Laois County Council administer the Rural Water Programme, which aims to improve the quality and efficiency of group water schemes, small public water and sewerage schemes, and private supplies where no alternative group or public supply is available.
We have a strategic rural water plan, pinpointing areas needing improvement and deciding how to make the most of grants and subsidies available for improving and maintaining water supply systems. We have an inventory of group schemes and take note of the quality of their water supply. The overall aim of the plan is to deliver water as efficiently and effectively as possible.
An Fóram Uisce monitors and advises on the development and implementation of policy on the Rural Water Programme. Laois has a local committee that enables water consumers to have a say in how the Programme is implemented. Laois has a County Liaison Officer which deals with the day-to-day issues brought up by the Programme’s implementation.
Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme 2024 - 2026
The Department for Housing, Planning and Local Government has announced a new investment programme for water services in rural areas. The Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme will run from 2024 to 2026.
What funding is available?
Funding is available under the following measures:
- Measure A1 Source Protection
- Measure A2 Water treatment provision, improvements and capital replacement
- Measure A3 Amalgamation and/or Rationalisation
- Measure A4 Improvement of Infrastructure including Water Conservation
- Measure A5 Extensions to Existing GWS & Development of New Standalone GWS
- Measure A6 Taking in charge of Group Water Schemes & Group Sewerage Schemes
- Measure A7 Community Water Connections & Community WasteWater Connections
- Measure A9 Innovative Demonstration Projects
Please view the government's framework document which sets out in detail the funding available under the new programme.
Further details regarding the above works and grant aid available can be obtained from the Rural Water Section by emailing lcollins@laoiscoco.ie or phone 057 867 4355.
Grant schemes
The Rural Water Programme also consists of the following Grant Schemes:
A. Grants for individual domestic water supplies (Well Grants)
This grant assists householders who are dependent on private individual water supplies that are deficient in quality and quantity, to upgrade these supplies. Please visit our Well Grants page for more information and to download an application form.
B. Grants for water and waste water group schemes
- Construction of New Group Schemes
- Water Conservation/Network Upgrade works
- Specific Source Protection works
- Connection to Public Mains of Quality Deficient Group Scheme
- DBO Capital replacements Costs
How do I apply?
- New Schemes – Application for connection to group scheme
- Takeover of Group Schemes – Application to take a group water scheme in charge
C. Subsidy grants for Group Water Supply Schemes
This grant is made available to Trustees of Group Water Supply Schemes. It is a contribution towards the running costs incurred in supplying domestic consumers on private group water schemes that are served from either public or private sources of supply. For more information, please view the Explanatory Memorandum on Subsidy Grants
D. Grants payable under the Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Septic Tanks)
This grant is to assist with the cost of remediation of domestic waster water treatment systems which are deemed, following inspection under the EPA’s National Inspection Plan and subsequent issue of an Advisory Notice by the local authority, to require repair or upgrading. From the 1st January 2024 there has been an increase in the maximum grant available from €5,000 to €12,000. Before a property owner applies for the grant please ensure that the following criteria have been met:
- Property must be primary place of residence (no holiday homes)
- Property must not be connected to a public sewerage system
- Property must not be under construction or constructed within the last 7 years
- Property must not have received a similar grant within the last 7 years
- Have all the works completed satisfactorily in accordance with the Advisory Notice, i.e. works carried out by a competent and tax compliant contractor
Further information
Interested applicants should please contact Mr. Colin Doyle, Senior Executive Engineer, Environment Department or email environment@laoiscoco.ie