Investing in water infrastructure to support capacity for new homes and sustainable growth
We are delivering strategic water services across Ireland
Uisce Éireann, Ireland’s public water and wastewater utility is committed to providing water and wastewater capacity to support new housing delivery to help meet the national target of 300,000 new homes by 2030. Uisce Éireann is committed to providing the infrastructure Ireland needs to deliver these homes and support sustainable growth.
Uisce Éireann’s investment plans—while subject to Government and regulatory approval—are designed to support Local Authorities as they progress their own programmes for economic growth and housing delivery, while ensuring Ireland continues to meet critical water services regulatory and compliance targets.
The plans are grounded in Uisce Éireann’s €10.2 billion 2025–2029 national investment programme, approved by Government in November 2024, and the additional €2 billion ring-fenced under the National Development Plan in July 2025. Of this extra NDP funding, €1.7 billion is targeted at high-growth areas, with €300 million ring-fenced for rural communities.
Taken together, this €12.2 billion combined investment provides for the water and wastewater capacity required to deliver the ambition of Delivering Homes, Building Communities, the national housing plan.
Prioritising capacity delivery
To prioritise capacity delivery, Uisce Éireann has identified 71 strategic settlements across Ireland, based on detailed reviews of the National Planning Framework, Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies, County Development Plans and Local Area Plans. These include cities, Regional Growth Centres, Key Towns and other large settlements with substantial forecasted housing demand.
Extensive Stakeholder Engagement has informed our plans
In preparing these plans, Uisce Éireann has met extensively with key stakeholders including developers, housing bodies, the Land Development Agency (LDA), the CCMA Housing Group and the Irish Home Builders Association. Engagement with house builders has been central to using up-to-date pipeline information to inform network planning, as well as exploring how developer-led infrastructure can accelerate delivery.
Ensuring Regulated, Targeted Investment for Ireland’s Housing Needs
All proposed capital investment must be assessed by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). Its draft decision is now open for public consultation until early February. An interim approach for 2025–2026 is in place to maintain continuity, and Government funding can only proceed once the CRU issues its final determination. Close coordination across Government, State bodies and utilities ensures investment is focused where housing is most urgently needed.
All projects must follow strict governance, planning and compliance processes and remain subject to statutory consents and timelines. Final plans will be published once approved later this year. Uisce Éireann will continue to engage with stakeholders and provide updates as plans progress.
Key Investment Highlights
Capital Investment and Capacity Delivery
The plan includes efficiency targets, enhanced reporting, and clear outputs, including: