Local Authorities
Seanad Éireann — 2025-05-13
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John Cummins (FG), Waterford

It is about that. It is about unlocking development in our smaller towns and villages. Anything that can speed up the process is being considered. That is not to ignore requirements. As regards EIAs and those towns above 10,000 in population, I have set out that there is limited scope because it goes to the board and goes through that statutory process, whether it is through the local authority or through Uisce Éireann. Where there may be scope to be able to improve in terms of timelines in partnership with local authorities is for those that are below that through the Part 8 process, in partnership. We have to remember that when local authorities had control of water and wastewater, it was standard to use the Part 8 process. It is therefore possible, and we are scoping out what is possible in terms of guidance around that. As I said, anything that can speed up the process in terms of delivering infrastructure to be able to facilitate more homes is what I am all about, and I will explore all those avenues.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2025-05-13/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:53:47+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-05-13