Water: Statements
Dail Éireann — 2026-01-21
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Naoise Ó Muirí (FG), Dublin Bay North

I start by agreeing with Deputy O'Sullivan about developer-led infrastructure. That is a good, positive development by the Minister, Deputy Browne, which is to be welcomed. More of that, please.
There are two important projects on the northside of Dublin coming down the line, which are really important for infrastructure and the development of the wider region. The first is the Shannon to Dublin water project, which shows the scale of the challenge and what ambition is needed now. It is a pipeline over 170 km long, costing a minimum of €5 billion, but it has the potential to meet up to half of Ireland's overall water needs to 2050 and beyond for the next generation and generation after that.
In the greater Dublin region, not just the city, 85% of the water comes from the River Liffey. This is a huge number by international standards. One big incident in the Liffey and our raw water supply would be knocked out, with potentially catastrophic consequences for Dublin and the wider region. It is a huge risk and one we have to grapple with.
Uisce Éireann has been clear in recent years that the delivery of new homes and businesses is already being delayed and is at serious risk of even being abandoned at this stage. The company projects that we require 34% more uisce in the eastern and midlands region by 2044 than is available today. This speaks volumes about the growth expected in the region and the importance of continuing to support and invest in Uisce Éireann.
Hand in hand with that, we have sewage treatment. It is great to see that the legal challenge to the greater Dublin drainage project has been withdrawn. I hope that project can now progress. It is in Clonshaugh in my constituency and it is vital for dealing with sewage for at least 300,000 new houses, again, not just in the city but in the greater Dublin region, including Meath and other counties. Its importance to the region is vital to getting sewage treatment transformed.
As I said, these projects are vital. We cannot afford a repeat of the delays of the past. If we fail to deliver these projects, the two big ones I mentioned in particular, we risk jeopardising housing delivery and economic growth in this region for generations to come.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-01-21/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-31T01:00:51+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-21