Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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1220.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to engage with Uisce éireann to address the unnecessary wait for water connections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33698/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Uisce éireann has statutory responsibility, under section 7 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013, for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation. As Minister, I have no function in this matter.

However, Uisce éireann is committed to timely delivery of housing connections under Housing for All. In 2023, Uisce éireann responded to 78% of pre-connection enquiries and 83% of connection applications within 16 weeks. Uisce éireann issued positive responses to 3,008 enquiries associated with 98,369 housing units and issued 4,597 connection offers associated with 42,970 housing units.

Uisce éireann actively engages with developers and developer representative bodies on an ongoing basis. They actively follow up with developers where additional information is required to complete their applications, which ensures Uisce éireann can respond in a timely manner.

If customers are not happy with their water connection process Uisce éireann has a complaint process - the details are on its website, www.water.ie.

Uisce éireann has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 0818-578578.

Finally, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) provides a free complaint resolution service for customers who have submitted a complaint to Uisce éireann and are unhappy with the outcome. Complaints to CRU can be made by completing an online complaint form, which is available from CRU’s website: www.cru.ie/make-a-complaint/complain-to-the-cru/