Water Services Strategic Plan

The Water Services Strategic Plan

The Water Services Strategic Plan (WSSP) presents Uisce Éireann’s objectives for the next 25 years and the means by which we will achieve them. It aligns to requirements set out in the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013. We published our first Water Services Strategic Plan in 2015 . The Water Service Strategic Plan 2050 (WSSP 2050) has replaced the 2015 plan and has  been approved by James Brown TD, Minster for Housing, Local Government and  Heritage. The Water Services Strategic Plan 2050, the SEA Statement and AA determination have been adopted by the Uisce Éireann Board. The post consultation report outlines feedback received during the consultation process and sets out the amendments that were made to the Water Services Strategic Plan 2050 as a result.

A diagram of the Consultation Roadmap for Water Service Strategic Plan 2050

The Water Services Strategic Plan 2050

The Water Services Strategic Plan 2050 (WSSP 2050) sets out our objectives and the means by which we aim to achieve them in the context of the significant challenges we are likely to face over the next 25 years.

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At A Glance diagram for the Water Services Strategic Plan 2050

Uisce Éireann, as Ireland's national public water services provider, supplies 1.7 billion litres of drinking water to our customers every day and collects and treats more than 1.2 billion litres of wastewater before we safely return it to the environment.

Providing safe, secure and sustainable water services is vital for our society, supporting public health, supporting the delivery of housing and jobs and protecting our environment and precious water resources.

The WSSP is one of a suite of plans and policy documents guiding the delivery of water and wastewater services in Ireland. The WSSP sets the overarching framework for subsequent more detailed implementation plans including for example the National Water Resources Plan (NWRP).

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What did we consult on?

In the draft Water Services Strategic Plan 2050 we presented the challenges we face in delivering water services to 2050. We outlined actions to respond to these challenges including how our approach to long term planning has changed to address the new and emerging trends in an uncertain future.

This public consultation presented a unique opportunity for you to engage with Uisce Éireann in the development of our 25-year strategy for the delivery of water services in Ireland.

The purpose of this consultation was to meaningfully engage with all our stakeholders, particularly those with an interest in water and wastewater services, to better inform the content of the WSSP 2050. We also wanted to gather views on UÉs, strategic objectives, aims, actions, and challenges for delivering the Plan.

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What’s included in the WSSP?

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We have identified 4 strategic objectives in the WSSP 2050 to address the key challenges facing our organisation and the services we are delivering up to 2050.

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Accompanying the 4 strategic objectives are 14 strategic aims that will help us to address our most critical investment needs, respond to emerging policy requirements and capitalise on new opportunities to transform our infrastructure.

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In accordance with Section 33(4) of the Water Services (No. 2) Act, 2013, we have set out the means by which we propose to achieve our strategic objectives. These are presented as 35 key actions.

Contact us

Email: wssp@water.ie

Water Vision 2050

Water Vision 2050 was a comprehensive study undertaken by Uisce Éireann in partnership with external stakeholders and the outputs of this study emphasised the power of foresight in safeguarding Ireland's water future. The Water Vision 2050 Project explored how big change drivers such as climate change, digitisation and environmental challenges might impact on the wider water sector over time. The outcomes of this project have informed our future strategies and plans including the upcoming draft Water Service Strategic Plan 2050. Click to view the stage 1 and stage 2 reports.

Consultations

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Consultation One

The draft Water Services Strategic Plan 2050 was developed following two phases of consultation. An initial statutory consultation on the draft Water Services Strategic Plan 2050 Issues Paper, Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Report and the AA Screening Report ran during Autumn 2023. For this period of consultation, Uisce Éireann engaged directly with key statutory and regulatory stakeholders. Feedback received on the Issues Paper and the Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Report and the AA Screening Report, was reviewed and taken into account during preparation of the draft Water Services Strategic Plan 2050, the Strategic Environmental Assessment Report and the Natura Impact Statement.

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Consultation Two

For the second phase of consultation, Uisce Éireann held a public consultation and invited submissions on the Draft WSSP 2050 together with the SEA Environmental Report and Natura Impact Statement (AA process). This round of public consultation ran for ten weeks from the 21 May to 30 July 2024.

Water Services Strategic Plan 2015

The current WSSP was approved by the Minister in 2015 and covers the period from 2015 to 2040. We have now started work towards developing the next WSSP which will cover the period from 2025 to 2050 with the aim of securing the approval of the Minister by the end of 2024. To view the WSSP 2015 documents please see the below.