Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Tuesday, 18 June 2024
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government
Current Progress and Future Projections of Uisce Éireann Objectives: Uisce Éireann
Mr. Niall Gleeson:
On the general funding, as I said before, our plans include the water supply project for Dublin but also the upgrading of networks, wastewater treatment and drinking water plants all around the country. Our plans are not to do one or other but to do both. That is challenge for the Exchequer, which is not one I can solve here. What I can say is that we are putting together comprehensive plans and the details and justification for it being a greater Dublin area or eastern seaboard project or a project on the west coast of Ireland are all there. One interesting thing is the cost of delivering small projects. The cost of delivering the greater Dublin drainage project, which will serve approximately 450,000 people is approximately €2,000 to €3,000 per head of population. A similar plant on the west coast of Ireland would cost somewhere between €10,000 and €15,000 per head of population. While the spend in rural areas might be less, the cost per head of population to service rural areas is considerably more. That is not necessarily a challenge but it is something we have to take into account as we deliver a project. I will ask Ms Ryan to come in on the other question on the details.