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RTÉ News
21-07-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Inside the Government's €100bn infrastructure plan
Today the Government publishes its review of the National Development Plan. David Murphy explains why is it crucial to dealing with the housing crisis. What is the National Development Plan? The National Development Plan is the Government's scheme to build infrastructure such as roads, rail, electricity connections and sewage schemes over the coming years. The first plan began in 1988. There have been many iterations since then and it has been the framework for investment in future years, with the current plan running until 2040. The Coalition is reviewing the spending with an emphasis on 2026 to 2030 and will publish its plan today. It is important because it is seen as crucial to address the chronic shortages of housing. Ireland is seen as lagging behind other countries on investment in infrastructure. Why is the plan important to housing? There is no point building houses unless they have water supplies, sewage connections and are linked to the electrical grid. However, Ireland is far behind in the provision of all three, which is holding back the construction of new homes. Could a lack of infrastructure really stop new homes being built? Yes, the situation is critical. For example, in Dublin, local authorities may not be able to give planning permission for new homes in three years unless Uisce Éireann, formerly Irish Water, proceeds with the Greater Dublin Drainage scheme which treats sewage. It has been tied up in the planning system for seven years partly due to an objection taken by one sea swimmer. The planning board, An Coimisiún Pleanála, gave it the green light two weeks ago, but there is still a window during which it could be subject to a judicial review in the courts. The treatment plant in Ringsend is at capacity and sometimes beyond it. Building more homes without the new sewage system runs the risk of polluting Dublin Bay. If the project is delayed again, it would be catastrophic for the provision of housing in the capital. So, is sewage the only thing holding back housing? No, the provision of water is a significant problem too. Some 85% of the supplies for the greater Dublin area, with a population of 1.7 million, rely on the River Liffey. The current sustainable production of water in the Greater Dublin Area is 620m litres daily. Frequently, the capital uses more than that, often over 640m litres. Uisce Éireann relies on back-up supplies in treated water reservoirs to provide the additional 20m litres, but this practice is not sustainable. Where would Dublin get more water? The plan is to take 2% of the water flowing from the River Shannon at the Parteen Basin between Co Clare and Co Tipperary. The proposal has been on the drawing board since the mid-1990s. It has now been agreed by the Government, and Uisce Éireann expects to submit a planning application at the end of this year. However, there are objections and obtaining planning permission will be complicated. Why is the provision of water services such a problem? Between 2005 and 2019, only 6% of Government capital expenditure was spent on water services compared to 20% on roads. But now that lack of investment in water services is beginning to bite. Is water the only problem? Electricity connections are a huge problem too. The population is forecast to grow by about one million between now and 2040. They will all use electricity. Houses which are being built now use twice as much power as homes built 20 years ago. By 2030, millions of devices including heat pumps, electric vehicles, battery storage, renewables and smart meters will be connected to the network. ESB Networks says it must provide "urgently needed capacity" to facilitate economic growth and new housing connections. It is worth bearing in mind data centres use more than a fifth of Ireland's electricity and their usage is growing quickly. How is the National Development Plan going to help? The National Development Plan review commits additional spending on top of money already allocated. Some €20bn of extra money comes from the sale of AIB shares and back-tax paid by iPhone-maker Apple. Total spending over the coming five years will be almost €100bn. There will be a significant emphasis on water, housing, electricity, roads, transport including the Metrolink project. So, how has Ireland been doing on investing in infrastructure? Not well. The International Monetary Fund published an assessment which said Ireland was 32% behind its peers in investment on infrastructure. This was partly due to a lack of investment in the wake of the financial crisis. Can I see which projects are happening in my area? Yes, the Government has published a useful map which allows people to look at projects in their area. It also shows when projects are due to be finished. Why does climate change have a significant impact on the plan? ESB Networks says "risks associated with climate change, including faster vegetation growth, the emergence of invasive species (including woodpeckers), and more extreme weather events such as flooding and high winds" means more investment is needed. Uisce Éireann says: "Extreme weather in the form of both droughts and intense rainfall will affect both the availability and quality of water." Also, areas which have been affected by floods in the past and locations which are vulnerable to rising sea levels and extreme weather will require flood relief works. What else is to be announced today? The Department of Finance will also announce the Summer Economic Statement. This is an important document because it sets out how much money will be available for tax cuts in the Budget in October. It will also say how much will be allocated for increases in current and capital spending next year. With the threat of escalating US tariffs, the Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has been urging his Cabinet colleagues to be cautious. That means he wants to announce a less expansionary Budget than previous years. The Coalition promised to cut the rate of VAT for the food service industry. If the Government proceeds with that commitment, it is likely to use a lot of the space allocated for tax cuts in the Budget.
RTÉ News
18-07-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
What is the Government's National Development Plan?
The National Development Plan is the Government's scheme to build infrastructure such as roads, rail, electricity connections and sewage schemes over the coming years. The first plan began in 1988. There have been many iterations since then, and it has been the framework for investment in future years with the current plan running until 2040. The Coalition is reviewing the spending from 2026 to 2030. It is expected to announce increased expenditure early next week. It is important because it is seen as crucial to address the chronic shortages of housing. Ireland is seen as lagging other countries on investment in infrastructure. Why is the plan important to housing? There is no point building houses unless they have water supplies, sewage connections and are linked to the electrical grid. However, Ireland is far behind in the provision of all three which is holding back the construction of new homes. Could a lack of infrastructure really stop new homes being built? Yes, the situation is critical. For example, in Dublin local authorities may not be able to give planning permission for new homes in three years unless Uisce Éireann, formerly Irish Water, proceeds with the Greater Dublin Drainage scheme which treats sewage. It has been tied up in the planning system for seven years partly due to an objection taken by one sea swimmer. The planning board Coimisiún Pleanála gave it the green light last week, but there is still a window during which it could be subject to a judicial review in the courts. The treatment plant in Ringsend is at capacity and sometimes beyond it. Building more homes without the new sewage system runs the risk of polluting Dublin Bay. If the project is delayed again, it would be catastrophic for the provision of housing in the capital. So, is sewage the only thing holding back housing? No, the provision of water is a significant problem too. Some 85% of the supplies for the greater Dublin area with a population of 1.7m rely on the River Liffey. The current sustainable production of water in the Greater Dublin Area is 620m litres daily. Frequently the capital uses more than that, often over 640m litres. Uisce Éireann relies on back-up supplies in treated water reservoirs to provide the additional 20m litres but this practice is not sustainable. Where would Dublin get more water? The plan is to take 2% of the water flowing from the River Shannon at the Parteen Basin between Co Clare and Co Tipperary. The proposal has been on the drawing board since the mid 1990s. It has now been agreed by the Government, and Uisce Éireann expects to submit a planning application at the end of this year. However, there are objections and obtaining planning permission will be complicated. Why is the provision of water services such a problem? Between 2005 and 2019, only 6% of Government capital expenditure was spent on water services compared to 20% on roads. But now that lack of investment in water services is beginning to bite. Is water the only problem? Electricity connections are a huge problem too. The population is forecast to grow by about one million between now and 2040. They will all use electricity. Houses which are being built now use twice as much power as homes built 20 years ago. By 2030, millions of devices including heat pumps, electric vehicles, battery storage, renewables, and smart meters will be connected to the network. ESB Networks says it must provide "urgently needed capacity" to facilitate economic growth and new housing connections. It is worth bearing in mind data centres use more than a fifth of Ireland's electricity and their usage is growing quickly. How is the National Development Plan going to help? The National Development Plan review will take €20bn from the sale of shares in AIB and back-tax paid by iPhone-maker Apple and spend it on infrastructure between next year and 2030. It is effectively additional money on top of funds already committed, bringing the total spending to €97bn over the period. There will be a significant emphasis on water, housing, electricity and roads. So, how has Ireland been doing on investing in infrastructure? Not well. This week the International Monetary Fund (IMF) published an assessment which said Ireland was 32% behind its peers in investment on infrastructure. This was partly due to a lack of investment in the wake of the financial crisis which began in 2008. Can I see which projects are happening in my area? Yes, the Government has published a useful map here which allows people to look at projects in their area. It also shows when projects are due to be finished. Why does climate change have a significant impact on the plan? The ESB says "risks associated with climate change, including faster vegetation growth, the emergence of invasive species (including woodpeckers), and more extreme weather events such as flooding and high winds" means more investment is needed. Uisce Éireann says: "Extreme weather in the form of both droughts and intense rainfall will affect both the availability and quality of water." Also, areas which have been affected by floods in the past and locations which are vulnerable to rising sea levels and extreme weather will require flood relief works.
Irish Independent
10-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Green light for €1.3bn wastewater treatment plant in north Dublin
The major €1.3bn wastewater treatment scheme has been in the planning process for at least six years, and was designed to ease pressure on the Ringsend wastewater treatment plant in Dublin city currently operating at capacity, and provide for the growing needs of homes and industry. Currently half of Ireland's wastewater is treated in the greater Dublin area, with 40pc of it being treated in Ringsend. The scheme, which was applied for by Uisce Eireann, was deemed necessary because the volume of wastewater generated in the greater Dublin area is projected to increase by 50pc up to 2050 due to population and economic growth. The new regional wastewater treatment facility will be built on a 30-hectare site at Clonshaugh in north Dublin and will service north Dublin as well as parts of Meath and Kildare - a population of half a million people. There will also be an underground orbital sewer from Blanchardstown to Clonshaugh bringing wastewater in. An outfall pipe at Baldoyle will return treated wastewater to a discharge point 6km out to sea. The project is expected to become operational in 2032. Uisce Éireann today welcomed the planning approval of the Greater Dublin Drainage Project. Commenting on the decision, Uisce Éireann's Infrastructure Delivery Director Maria O'Dwyer said: 'Uisce Éireann is delighted to reach this significant milestone. The delivery of the Greater Dublin Drainage project is a key part of Uisce Éireann's investment in new wastewater infrastructure in Greater Dublin and will facilitate housing and growth, protect public health into the future.' 'The project was first submitted for planning in 2018 and since that time, population and economic growth means the volume of wastewater we are producing has continued to grow, so the delivery of this critical infrastructure project is more important than ever. ADVERTISEMENT 'Current projections are that the amount of wastewater generated in the Greater Dublin Area, including parts of Wicklow, Kildare and Meath, will increase by over 50pc in the period to 2050. The delivery of this essential project on the northside of Dublin, in addition to the upgrade to the Ringsend Treatment Plant on the southside of the City, will provide the capacity and resilience to support economic and social development for many years to come,' she added. Uisce Eireann said the project will increase the development potential of Dublin and parts of the surrounding counties by providing new infrastructure that will alleviate pressure within the existing wastewater network. It is now reviewing the grant of permissions and its attached conditions. The next phase of work involves completing the remaining pre-construction statutory processes and progressing the procurement of contractors to construct the project. Given the scale and complexity of the project it anticipates construction works will extend over a four-year period. There is now an eight-week window during which objectors can take a judicial review.
Irish Daily Mirror
10-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Beleaguered water treatment plant gets green light after seven year delay
A water project that has been the subject of seven years of legal proceedings has finally been given the green light. Uisce Éireann confirmed that planning approval for the Greater Dublin Drainage (GDD) Project in Clonshaugh had been granted by An Coimisiún Pleanála. Its CEO, Niall Gleeson, previously estimated that due to a seven year delay in the project due to judicial reviews to the planning application, the cost had ballooned from €600m to €1.2bn. Uisce Éireann's Infrastructure Delivery Director Maria O'Dwyer described the Greater Dublin Drainage project as a 'key part of Uisce Éireann's investment in new wastewater infrastructure in Greater Dublin' that 'will facilitate housing and growth, protect public health into the future'. She said: 'The Greater Dublin Drainage Project was first submitted for planning in 2018 and since that time, population and economic growth means the volume of wastewater we are producing has continued to grow, so the delivery of this critical infrastructure project is more important than ever. 'Current projections are that the amount of wastewater generated in the Greater Dublin Area including parts of Wicklow, Kildare and Meath will increase by over 50% in the period to 2050. 'The delivery of this essential project on the northside of Dublin in addition to the upgrade to the Ringsend Treatment Plant on the southside of the City (to be complete by the end of this year) will provide the capacity and resilience to support economic and social development for many years to come'. Mr Gleeson criticised the delay of this project during the official opening of the Arklow Wastewater Treatment Plant in May. He stated: 'I would say that if you took it, the taxpayer and the State, it is probably in the billions [that is being lost]. Private entities are losing a fortune through this kind of stuff as well. 'I know there's a lot of work being done on the planning process and, actually, a lot of the planning process works pretty well with the local authorities and An Bórd Pleanála, 'But it's the ones that are tricky to get through, the larger projects, that I think we need extra support. But that cost is real.'
Irish Times
04-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Ringfence €500m annually for water services, builders tell Government
Government must earmark €500 million a year to develop water services to aid house building, the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) argues in a pre-budget submission. State company Uisce Éireann warned recently that it faces serious challenges to provide water treatment and waste services needed for the 300,000 new homes the Government aims to have built by 2030. The Government should 'ringfence investment of €500 million a year in water and wastewater infrastructure' to aid house building, the CIF says in a document setting out its recommendations for next year's State spending plans. Specifically, its pre-budget submission says spending needs to prioritise plans such as the Greater Dublin Drainage and Water Supply projects. READ MORE The drainage project will serve 500,000 people. It includes a new wastewater treatment plant at Clonshaugh, sewers to cater for large parts of the city's northside and a discharge point for the treated water. Reports estimate the cost at €1.3 billion. The supply project will tap the Shannon at Parteen, Co Tipperary and pipe water supplies to the midlands and eastern regions, ultimately serving about half the Republic's population. The plan, with an estimated €10 billion cost, faces opposition, particularly in Co Tipperary. The CIF's submission warns that there are not enough water services to provide for the 60,000 homes the Government hopes the industry will build each year up to 2030. The body calculates that it would cost €15 billion to provide the water supply and treatment systems the Republic needs. 'Uisce Éireann has not been allocated the necessary capital funding to construct new infrastructure in 2024 and 2025,' the CIF argues. The organisation dubs the Republic's infrastructure gap 'its greatest competitiveness challenge', which demands urgent 'plan-led investment'. The CIF also argues that the State should increase investment in the national grid and electricity infrastructure. An inability to supply the pharmaceutical, biotech and data industries with the energy they need is an 'impediment to the further growth of these sectors', the CIF says. Hubert Fitzpatrick, federation director general, says that two-thirds of the 50 biggest companies in the organisation are exporting their expertise to international markets, despite the infrastructure gaps at home. 'Construction companies want to deliver critical infrastructure at home, but the projects simply aren't materialising,' he says. 'Many can no longer rely on Ireland as a stable base for long-term business.' Irish builders have the 'talent and resources' to meet demand, according to Mr Fitzpatrick. 'The main barriers lie outside the industry with persistent planning delays, a lack of zoned land, and low delivery of enabling infrastructure like water and electricity,' he says. 'These consistent roadblocks mean that for many companies, a reliable pipeline of work is not available in Ireland, and for housebuilders, continued delays are slowing the pace of home delivery and deepening the housing crisis.' Government must co-ordinate infrastructure investment over several years, while reforming public procurement and construction contracts, to give building businesses the confidence to expand here, he adds. Paschal Donohoe , Minister for Finance, will announce details of the 2026 budget in October. .
