Latest news with #NiallGleeson
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 Examiner
01-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Uisce Éireann warns of 'critical constraints' in water capacity
Uisce Éireann has warned that its capacity to serve could hit critical constraints resulting in housing delivery coming to a standstill in the next few years. 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. Read More Ireland facing sand and gravel shortage due to planning delays, industry warns
Irish Times
01-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Total bonuses at Uisce Eireann top €13m
Bonus payments to staff at State-owned utility Uisce Éireann last year topped €13 million. That is according to Uisce Éireann's 2024 annual report which shows that the €13.08 million in performance related pay was a €2.5 million increase on the performance related payouts of €10.57 million for 2023. The report discloses that Uisce Éireann made performance related payments to 2,244 employees in 2025 in respect of 2024. About 1,631 staff received bonus payments for 2023. The average bonus was €5,830. That was down €650 on the the prior year. READ MORE The annual report states that 'performance is assessed against individual objectives and corporate objectives through a balanced scorecard process'. No bonus went to chief executive Niall Gleeson. The report also reveals that the numbers earning over €100,000 last year totalled 421. That was 18 per cent higher than the 344 in that earning bracket in 2023. The detailed figures show that four staff members earned between €250,000 and €275,000; five between €225,000 and €250,000 and nine between €200,000 and €225,000. A further 22 earned between €175,000 and €200,000 while 35 earned between €150,000 and €175,000. Just over 100 staff earned between €125,000 and €150,000 while 244 earned between €100,000 and €125,000. Overall staff costs increased by €44 million to €158 million as numbers employed increased by 630 to 2,108. The payment to Mr Gleeson remained at the same level at €275,000 made up of €225,000 in basic salary, €27,000 in pension contributions and €23,000 in 'other short term' employee costs. Last year, pre-tax profits at Uisce Eireann decreased by 15pc to €321 million as operating costs rose by 5pc from €983.62 million to €1.03 billion. Revenues last year increased by 3 per cent from €1.56 billion to €1.606 billion. The utility's revenues were made up of €1.13 billion in Government subvention payments for domestic water billing, non domestic revenues of €271.79 million while new connection revenues declined by 20 per cent to €195.24 million. Chief financial officer, Chris McCarthy, said that Uisce Éireann 'delivered a strong financial performance during 2024'. He said that the profit, together with necessary Government support in capital contributions of €572 million 'was invested to fund critical infrastructure projects and enabled the successful delivery of a €1.372 billion capital investment programme in 2024'. He said: 'This allowed us to improve the quality of our water supply, improve our compliance with standards and increase capacity for housing and development to support economic growth.
Irish Independent
01-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Uisce Eireann staff got over €13m in bonuses last year
The agency's annual report for 2024 shows that the €13.08m in performance-related pay represented a €2.5m increase on the pay-outs in The report discloses that Uisce Éireann has made performance-related payments to 2,244 employees this year in respect of 2024, and this followed 1,631 staff receiving bonus payments for 2023. The payments were approved by the agency's board last January, and the average payment was €5,830, which was down €650 on the average bonus payment of €6,480 for the prior year. The annual report says Uisce Éireann's pay model 'is market-based and performance-related, comprising two elements, namely base pay and a performance-related award". It says performance is assessed against individual objectives and corporate objectives through a 'balanced scorecard process'. No bonus payment was made to Uisce Éireann's ceo Niall Gleeson, and this is as a result of a Government direction in 2011. The report also reveals that the number of employees earning over €100,000 last year totalled 421, which was an increase of 77 on the number in in that earning bracket in 2023. The detailed figures show that four staff members earned between €250,000 and €275,000; five between €225,000 and €250,000; and nine between €200,000 and €225,000. A further 22 earned between €175,000 and €200,000 while 35 earned between €150,000 and €175,000. Overall staff costs increased by €44m to €158m and the report notes that payroll costs were higher in 2024 with increased average headcount year-on-year 'as transformation under the framework for future delivery of water services progressed in 2024'. The average number employed increased by 630 from 1,478 to 2,108. ADVERTISEMENT Mr Gleeson's remuneration package remained at the same level of €275,000, made up of €225,000 in basic salary, €27,000 in pension contributions, and €23,000 in 'other short term' employee costs. Last year, pre-tax profits at Uisce Eireann decreased by 15pc to €321m as operating costs rose by 5pc from €983.62m to €1.03bn. Revenues increased by 3pc from €1.56bn to €1.606bn. The utility's revenues were made up of €1.13bn in Government subvention payments for domestic water billing, non-domestic revenues of €271.79m, and new connection revenues, which declined by 20pc to €195.24m. The utility delivered Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (Ebtida) of €550m compared to €560m in 2023. Chris McCarthy, the chief financial officer, said that Uisce Éireann 'delivered a strong financial performance' last year. The profit generated, together with necessary Government support in capital contributions of €572m, 'was invested to fund critical infrastructure projects and enabled the successful delivery of a €1.372bn capital investment programme in 2024'. He added: 'This allowed us to improve the quality of our water supply, improve our compliance with standards, and increase capacity for housing and development to support economic growth.' The utility's spending on hospitality for staff and clients last year increased by 63.5pc, from €129,000 to €211,000. This included €194,000 on staff hospitality and €17,000 on client hospitality. Uisce Eireann paid out €4.42m in legal costs and made settlements of €2.01m, relating to 41 legal cases. Cash funds at the end of 2024 totalled €345m.
Extra.ie
29-05-2025
- Business
- Extra.ie
Stark warning: Dublin faces citywide water shortages within five years
Uisce Éireann has warned water shortages will hit 'all customers' in Dublin in 'the next five years' due to 'critical' infrastructure issues. The chief executive of the utility, Niall Gleeson, has written to Housing Minister James Browne seeking 'an urgent meeting' over the matter. Mr Gleeson fears a multibillion-euro proposal to pump water from the River Shannon into the Greater Dublin Area to meet growing demand could be delayed for several years by planning objections from environmentalists. Housing Minister James Browne. Pic: Sam Boal/Collins He pointed to plans for a new wastewater plant that was expected to be operational this year, but now won't be delivered until 2032. In correspondence released to under Freedom of Information legislation, the Uisce Éireann boss said that issues with the supply of water in Dublin have become so dire that a drought in the Liffey today would result in immediate water restrictions. has previously revealed that thousands of new homes in Dublin are at risk because Uisce Éireann (Irish Water) needs tens of billions in investment. Niall Gleeson. Pic: Sasko Lazarov / © But the delivery of new homes is not the only serious problem emerging from Ireland's creaking water infrastructure. Mr Gleeson said the issues will affect 'not just the new housing targets but current and future foreign direct investment' in Dublin and across the country. He wrote: 'Significant population and economic growth over and above forecasts in the GDA (Greater Dublin Area) in the last three years means that there will be a shortage of water for all customers within the next five years. Greater Dublin. Pic: Getty Images 'This shortage can only be adequately addressed by prioritising the delivery of the Water Supply Project Eastern and Midlands Region (WSP).' The WSP will see water from the Shannon piped 170 km through counties Tipperary, Offaly, and Kildare to a reservoir at Peamount in Dublin, connecting into the GDA water supply network. The Department of Housing estimates that the project could cost over €10 billion. But Mr Gleeson has raised fears the WSP will run into significant planning delays. He referenced the Greater Dublin Drainage Project (GDD), which provides for a new wastewater treatment plant in Clonshaugh. The office of An Bord Pleanála in Dublin. Pic: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos It has been in planning for six years, with the original consent quashed 'on one ground only, over which Uisce Éireann had no control', and which related to a consultation between An Bord Pleanála and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This, he said, was 'a direct consequence of the overly complex multiple consenting regime in Ireland' The planning application was lodged in 2018, and the project was expected to be 'complete and operational by 2025'. However, he added: 'As a result of the ongoing planning delays, we now believe that, at best, the project may be delivered and operational by 2032.' Mr Gleeson then warned that he fears the same problems will befall the WSP. He said: 'Given the issues experienced on the GDD project, we are concerned that the WSP will suffer similar delays and will be tied up for years in the consenting processes.' However, a spokeswoman for the EPA said that An Bord Pleanála had not fulfilled its obligations to seek the agency's views on the DDP. She told 'The judgment in this case did not identify any shortcomings or omissions by the EPA. Uisce Éireann has submitted an application to the EPA, which is currently under review. 'A final decision will be made by the EPA on this licence once the necessary planning decision has been made.' A spokesman for Irish Water said the supply in the GDA is on a 'knife edge'. He said this may result in 'water conservation orders (hosepipe bans) or supply restrictions', particularly during periods of drought/high demand. He added: 'This is an unsustainable situation and is a symptom of the critical need to develop a new source of supply.' On housing, Mr Gleeson said it is estimated that to meet housing targets of 50,000 units per year, Irish Water would need an additional € 1.7 billion in a 'nationally multi-annual ring-fenced fund for housing and growth'. He added: 'Our projects are of national importance and without them there will be significant curtailment of the State's housing programme despite our best efforts'. A spokesman for the Department of Housing said that 'while there are risks to water supply until the Eastern and Midlands Water Supply Project is completed in the early 2030s, Uisce Éireann will take all possible action to maintain supply and support new connections'.
