Uisce Éireann warns of 'critical constraints' in water capacity
Concerns were raised at the Oireachtas housing committee that housing delivery could be stymied in the next three or four years as the water utility urged for the situation to be treated as an emergency.
The committee heard that an additional €2bn — paid out over five years — would be required in order to deliver on the Government's housing targets.
Uisce Éireann's Strategic Funding Plan had set out a requirement of €10.3bn investment in capital infrastructure based on the Housing For All targets of 33,000 new homes per year for 2025 to 2029.
"The Government has now moved to increase national housing targets by 17,000 additional units a year to 2030," CEO of Uisce Éireann, Niall Gleeson said.
The challenge for infrastructure providers like Uisce Éireann is to work out how we can mobilise our workforce, funding, processes and supply chains to support these targets on top of our existing obligations.
Mr Gleeson said Uisce Éireann "is not a housing delivery body" but is tasked with ensuring the provision of water and wastewater infrastructure for the construction of new developments and for the homes when they are completed.
The Dublin area in particular is "running out of road" in terms of headroom and that projects in Dublin and the Eastern and Midlands region are on the cusp of critical phases, the committee heard.
"Until we address the challenges highlighted in planning, consenting and funding, Uisce Éireann remains concerned about the level of risk in these projects," said Mr Gleeson.
With the demand outstripping the supply in Dublin on certain days already this year, it was warned that the area could be one fine day away from the introduction of water restrictions.
Funding is just one element that is needed to deliver the big and small projects that need to be delivered.
Infrastructure projects need to be prioritised when it comes to planning, the process needs to be streamlined and the committee heard that when it comes to consent, there is an element of 'nimbyism' (not in my back yard).
Mr Gleeson told the committee that the utility has "consistently advocated for an urgent approach" to addressing the issues facing infrastructure projects and reiterated the need for a sense of urgency.
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