O’Shea Welcomes Uisce Éireann Capital Investment Plan

Deputy John Paul O’Shea, Fine Gael TD for Cork North West has welcomed the publication of Uisce Éireann’s latest capital investment programme, describing it as a significant investment in Ireland’s future infrastructure and an important step in supporting housing growth, economic development and environmental sustainability.

Deputy O’Shea said the scale of the programme demonstrates a clear commitment to improving water and wastewater services right across the country.

“This investment plan is hugely important for communities, businesses and future housing delivery. Reliable water and wastewater infrastructure is essential if towns and villages are to continue to grow and develop sustainably,” Deputy O’Shea said.

Under the new Capital Programme, Uisce Éireann will deliver 163 new and upgraded water treatment plants and 61 wastewater treatment plants nationwide by 2029. The programme also includes 126km of additional water network capacity, 113km of wastewater networks, rehabilitation of 639km of water mains and 34km of sewer networks, along with 118 new and upgraded pumping stations.

Deputy O’Shea said the investment would significantly strengthen infrastructure capacity while also supporting environmental compliance and improved service delivery.

The Cork North West TD particularly welcomed the additional €2 billion in ring-fenced funding under the National Development Plan aimed at accelerating housing delivery and supporting population growth in key towns, cities and rural communities.

“It is very encouraging to see significant funding specifically allocated to support housing growth and rural development. This investment will help ensure that infrastructure capacity does not become a barrier to delivering much-needed homes and building stronger communities,” he said.

Deputy O’Shea also welcomed the continued focus on reducing water leakage across the national network.

“Reducing leakage is critically important, both environmentally and economically. It is very positive to see that national leakage levels have fallen significantly from 48% to 36%, which is the lowest level ever recorded. Continued investment in upgrading ageing infrastructure and improving efficiency will be vital in the years ahead,” Deputy O’Shea added.

Deputy O’Shea said the focus must now be on ensuring the projects are delivered efficiently and without unnecessary delays.

“Uisce Éireann must now focus on delivering these crucial infrastructure projects on time and on budget. Communities and local authorities need certainty around delivery timelines so that housing, business development and community growth can progress with confidence,” he said.

Deputy O’Shea acknowledged that delivery of major infrastructure projects can often be impacted by planning and statutory approval processes but said it was important that every effort is made to progress projects as quickly as possible.

“I look forward to seeing projects progress over the coming years and I will continue to engage with Uisce Éireann and Government to ensure Cork North West receives the investment needed to support local communities, economic development and future growth,” he concluded.