Uisce Éireann is responsible for the delivery of secure, safe and sustainable public water services to households and businesses across Ireland that enable communities to thrive. We make a crucial contribution to Ireland’s public health and wellbeing, economic prosperity including housing and development in addition to supporting environmental protection and climate resilience and adaptation policies.

Last year, was another busy and challenging year that saw the organisation continue to progress the delivery of essential water and wastewater services to support our growing population and economy. The transformation programme and migration of Local Authority staff into Uisce Éireann is underway and will result in a team of almost 4,500 people directly involved in delivering essential water services on a daily basis to 80% of the Irish population. We have made significant progress over the last decade in addressing the legacy of under-investment in water services. However, we recognise that our services still lack resilience leading to service deficits affecting households, communities and risks to the environment. Therefore, we will need to continue large scale investment in plants and networks across water and wastewater for several investment cycles. This must take account of the continuous repair of assets as they age and conditions change as well accrued deficits from past decades. Along with improved operation and maintenance of these assets, we will continue to enhance the services we provide, protect public health and the environment.

Substantial investment last year facilitated essential multi-generational improvements which provided resilient water services benefitting communities and supporting sustainable growth and development across the country. Notable highlights include the completion of 17 new and upgraded wastewater treatment plants and 9 water treatment plants. We also received Government approval in principle for the Water Supply Project Eastern and Midlands Region that will enable this project, one of the largest in the history of the State to proceed to planning. We delivered 6,680 development connections associated with 31,997 housing units, playing an essential part in the Government’s Housing for All Programme. Last year also saw an increased focus on engagement with elected representatives to communicate the extent of our work and the scale of the challenge. Led by CEO Niall Gleeson and the Executive, our appearances before Oireachtas Committees and our briefings to political parties on national and local issues have been key to improving understanding of our transformation to a national public utility that will engender public confidence through improved service delivery.

Implementing the Framework for the Future Delivery of Water Services

Good progress was made in delivering on the objectives outlined in the ‘Framework for the Future Delivery of Water Services’ in 2024. In 2025, we continue to focus on the transition of water services staff who may consider transferring across to Uisce Éireann up to the end of 2026. The dedicated Transformation Programme Team have been progressing the transition on a phased basis, with the primary focus being on stability of operations, service continuity and safety of both staff and public health. In tandem with this process, we have established centres of excellence and crisis response capabilities to support front-line operations while rolling out standardised ways of working as key enablers of improved service delivery to customers and communities nationally.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Uisce Éireann employs almost 2,400 people, who together with circa 2,100 staff in Local Authorities working on behalf of Uisce Éireann, deliver our water and wastewater services. We are proud to provide all employees with equal opportunities through the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) initiatives and supports. We are delighted that these initiatives are bearing fruit and have had an impact on our 2024 Gender Pay Gap which was 2.31% during this period (compared to 9.16% in 2023). During this period, we experienced significant growth in our workforce and a changing employee profile which is reflected in the current status. We anticipate that the period between now and the end of 2026 is likely to cause fluctuations in our gender pay gap year on year as more operational staff transfer.

Safety Culture

Safety culture is at the heart of what we do. The safety culture and values are embedded in all Uisce Éireann’s activities through the Work Safe Home Safe programme and initiatives. Tragically on the 29th of May 2024, a person working on behalf of one of our third-party delivery partners had a fatal accident during works at the Roscrea Wastewater Treatment Plant. The incident is currently under investigation with the Health and Safety Authority. In 2025 we will continue our focus on safety as a paramount consideration in everything we do, embedding safety through education and awareness training regarding risks and dangers associated with construction activity.

Governance

During 2024, the Board continued to prioritise corporate governance in line with best practice and transparency. As Chairperson, I am satisfied that the appropriate internal controls exist and are managed effectively to meet our governance requirements. For more details, please see the Report of the Board.

Conclusion

On a personal note, it is a great honour to return to Uisce Éireann and to witness at firsthand how much progress has been made towards developing an effective national water utility for Ireland. Working with Niall Gleeson and the leadership team, my Board colleagues and I are committed to using our knowledge and experience to drive the business forward, gradually improving service performance through investing in and expert stewardship of our water and sewerage infrastructure. I would like to extend my appreciation to the Minister and his officials in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage who together with NewERA support Uisce Éireann’s investment programmes around the country.

I would also like to extend a warm welcome to Michael Nolan, Paul Reid and Douglas Millican whom have brought a wealth of expertise and experience to the Board this year. My thanks to Tony Keohane, Liz Joyce, Fred Barry and Christopher Banks, who have stepped down, for their commitment and service. I wish to acknowledge and thank Niall Gleeson and the Executive team who continue to lead the organisation with distinction. Lastly, on behalf of the Board, I want to recognise the expertise, dedication and commitment of all our people, partners and Local Authority staff who deliver water services on behalf of Uisce Éireann.