James Browne
Wexford · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“I cannot accept amendments Nos. 10 and 11. The interpretation of "lawfully resident" and "habitually resident" is construed in accordance with section 20A, which sets out the new residency requirements for social housing applicants.”
“The safety net provision is to be provided by the local authority on a night-to-night basis, and this is to allow local authorities to reassess the circumstances each day to determine whether the safety net should still be provided.”
“I cannot accept amendment No. 21. This amendment proposes the introduction of a social housing passport allowing households to transfer between local authority areas while retaining their original waiting list or transfer list position. The amendment as it stands is well-intentioned.”
“No one factor is intended to be decisive and it is not necessary for a person to score strongly on all five factors outlined in section 20A(7) in order to get a positive decision. However, the local authority decision-maker must be confident that there is strong evidence that it is the applicant's main centre of interest.”
“In relation to Senator McCarthy’s amendment, while it was a very well intentioned and constructed amendment, it has been disallowed. It was not my decision on those matters. I am satisfied the safeguards and safety net are there for those who are not entitled by way of legal or habitual residence.”
“In practical terms, if an Irish citizen has severed ties abroad and has decided to return home, the process of establishing habitual residency could be determined from day one.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,384 lines we hold for James Browne, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 24 of 28.
“Furthermore, I am establishing, and will directly chair, the housing activation delivery group comprising senior representatives from key Departments, infrastructure agencies, regulators, housing delivery agencies and other public expertise. It will support the office in developing a co-ordinated programme of public infrastructure. As Minister, I must also chair the housing activation industry group to provide for regular structured engagement between the office and industry-representative bodies. The office has been established on a non-statutory basis in the first instance. On review, it was clear the provision of powers would require an extensive and complex legislative intervention as the office cuts across areas assigned to multiple Departments and agencies under existing legislation.”
“The office will seek to co-ordinate investment by infrastructure providers under their capital expenditure plans and delivery programmes, ensuring appropriate prioritisation for housing. It is also intended the office will manage a multi-annual housing infrastructure budget under the new towns and cities infrastructure fund to be determined through the national development plan review. It will engage and align stakeholders, including local authorities, utility and infrastructure providers, industry and others, to ensure the infrastructure blockages are addressed in a co-ordinated way to enable housing development.”
“The Government has established a new infrastructure division in the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform that will lead a process of infrastructure reform. In the first instance, the new division will oversee an evidence-based assessment of barriers impeding timely delivery of infrastructure development, and this will form an action plan of high impact reform measures. Implementation of the action plan will be overseen by an accelerating infrastructure task force. The Government has also established a new housing activation office in my Department. The office will identify and seek to address barriers to the delivery of vital public infrastructure projects needed to enable housing development through the alignment of funding and co-ordination of infrastructure providers.”
“This includes a consolidation and a streamlining of planning legislation under the Planning and Development Act 2024. This Act represents the most comprehensive review of planning since 2000 and will reform and streamline the planning process, reducing delays in housing and strategic infrastructure projects. Furthermore, the implementation of the ministerial action plan on planning resources will strengthen the planning system and support the timely delivery of critical infrastructure and housing. The revised national planning framework also provides the basis for the review and updating of local authority development plans to reflect critical matters such as updated housing figures and planning for critical enabling infrastructure.”
“While there is still much to do, the Sinn Féin motion and Opposition inputs this evening do not fairly represent the efforts and progress made to date and the Government commitment to addressing these challenges further. The motion claims the Government is not doing enough, but it is clear we have securely laid a foundation and built a housing pipeline that will allow us to continue to ramp up delivery over the coming years. The measures introduced under Housing for All have helped establish a solid platform to scale up housing delivery further in the short term and secure a sustainable level of supply that will help us meet an unmet and emerging demand. The Government has progressed a series of reforms to support a streamlined and well-resourced planning system.”
“I thank all the Deputies for their contributions. I echo the comments made by the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, and reassert the Government's commitment to tackling challenges in the housing sector and with regard to critical infrastructure. We know these challenges are having a very real impact on people's lives. We understand the urgency and the need to ensure sufficient homes are delivered to ensure people have safe, secure and affordable homes and that these homes are served by the physical and social infrastructure needed to create sustainable communities. We are working tirelessly to address these challenges and implement policies that are making a positive difference.”
“This will give a clear direction to be followed by planning authorities in updating their plans, allowing for stakeholders in the planning system to have clarity on the location and scale of the development proposed to meet housing need across the country. I look forward to hearing the contributions from the Deputies in discussing and debating what is a very important revision.”
“In this regard, priority actions from the programme for Government are already being progressed, including the establishment of a new housing activation office. This office will enable infrastructure to support public and private housing development, while providing solutions to infrastructure blockages. It will draw on the towns and cities infrastructure investment fund to support strategic investment in housing orientated infrastructure. Noting the urgency associated with the scaling up of housing delivery I, as Minister, have already signalled the intention to issue a policy direction to local authorities following finalisation of the revision process in order to enable rapid implementation of the updated planned housing requirements, by local authority area, into the current development plans.”
“The revised national planning framework will provide the basis for the reviewing and updating of regional strategies and local authority development plans to reflect matters such as updated housing figures, projected job growth and renewable energy capacity allocations, including through the zoning of land for residential, employment and a range of other important purposes. The plan-led approach to development that was further enhanced under the Planning and Development Act 2024 will continue to provide the basis for the identification and prioritisation of infrastructure delivery. The enhanced delivery of key infrastructure projects is a core objective of Government and a particular focus has already been placed on identifying blockages and ensuring they can be removed.”
“The revision includes objectives for transport connectivity, health, education, investment in research and innovation, as well as reference to the PEACEPLUS programme, which is a major driver for cross-Border investment and co-operation. Approval of the revised national planning framework will ensure the most up-to-date policy position becomes formally imbedded as national planning policy with which the regional strategies and local level plans are required to be consistent.”
“The revision reflects on the ongoing co-operation and collaboration that exists between Ireland and Northern Ireland, with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland engaged in the revision process through membership of the planning advisory forum. Notwithstanding the challenges that exist in respect of the implications of Brexit, the draft revised national planning framework reflects on the opportunity for the strategic co-operation and investment for mutual benefit on the island of Ireland. This includes, for example, continued support for the commitment of local authorities and other stakeholders to developing a co-ordinated approach to the development of the north-west city region comprising Letterkenny, Donegal, Derry and Strabane.”
“The development of tourism and other industries suited to rural areas are addressed throughout the document, aligned with the Department of Rural and Community Development's Our Rural Future, the Government's blueprint for rural development. Single rural housing based on social or economic need will continue to be supported. The final draft revised national planning framework continues to reflect the commitment to achieve the objective set out in the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 and retains the policy support for the implementation of language plans in the Gaeltacht language planning areas, Gaeltacht service towns and Irish language networks.”
“The final revised national planning framework continues to support the overall development of urban and rural areas in Ireland and to deliver strengthened and diversified rural communities consistent with Government policy. In relation to supports for rural towns and villages, the draft revised framework has been updated to take account of the town centre first policy approach, and other Government initiatives such as the urban and rural regeneration funds, Croí Cónaithe towns and the continuation of the village renewal scheme and the vacant homes action plan. In the context of the rural economy, the circular bioeconomy, rural enterprise, the agrifood sector and diversification are strongly supported.”
“The national planning framework revision will ensure that our planning system can adequately reflect these important Government objectives. The revised national planning framework also acknowledges the clear link between climate action and the potential for investment generation and employment, including in connection with the offshore wind industry and green technology. The national planning framework highlights the need to plan for jobs and employment at locations that are integrated with the planned distribution of population and aligned to the development of the green economy and smart specialisation strategies that allow all regions to focus on their economic strengths.”
“This is in order to facility the accelerated roll-out and delivery of renewable electricity infrastructure for onshore wind and solar generation development. In addition to the related necessary grid development intended to support the achievement of the national targets set out in the climate action plan, the spatial planning system can play a key role in mitigating against climate change through the reduction of carbon emissions in sectors such as electricity, planning for renewable energy generating development and transport through the continued integration of land use and transport planning to support reduced commuting patterns and promotion of public transport, cycling and walking. Areas of focus such as district heating, biomethane, biodiversity and the circular economy are flagged for particular attention.”
“This includes an even split of growth between the eastern and midland region, and the southern, northern and western regions combined, based on a city focus and a compact pattern of development. This aims to reverse the patterns of sprawl that have been a feature over recent decades. In terms of identifying locations for further growth and housing development at scale through transport-oriented development, a new element of the strategy, it is critical that planning for these opportunities is aligned with phased infrastructure investment. Another critical element of the revision is the incorporation of the new policies in relation to renewable energy development, in particular the inclusion of regional, renewable electricity capacity allocations.”
“In that context, we will use data from the CSO, including census data, geographical profiles of income, the residential property price index and housing completion data, data from the Residential Tenancies Board on rental prices and data published by my Department. The impact on development plans is also extremely relevant. This will result in the need for a plan for more housing delivery than the capacity currently available within development plans across the country. The strategy sets out the spatial planning policy approach to accommodate the projected population growth to 2040 in a manner which continues to deliver balanced regional development.”
“The targets draw on the ESRI's demographic and econometric modelling of population growth and structural housing demand to 2040, but also includes estimates relating to unmet demand, including homelessness data published by my Department. In parallel with the national planning framework, the Government approved revised housing targets on 5 November 2024, for the period of 2025 to 2030. The targets are set out at a national level, and provide for the delivery of at least 303,000 new homes over the period, at an average of 50,000 per annum, rising to an annual delivery of 60,000 by 2030. Work on translating the revised national housing targets into local authority and tenure-specific targets for social, affordable and private rented and owned homes is ongoing.”
“The revised national planning framework strategy sets out the need to plan for a projected population of 6.1 million people in Ireland by 2040 under the baseline scenario provided by the ESRI, and a possible requirement to plan for a high migration scenario of 6.3 million people by 2040. Taking pent-up demand into account, the strategy sets out a need for a plan for the delivery of approximately 50,000 additional housing units per annum nationally to 2040. The original timeline for the revision of the process in order to ensure that the updated ESRI projections were available, noting that this independent and peer-reviewed report was a critical input to the revision.”
“On 5 November 2024, the Government agreed to progress and publish a draft schedule of amendments to the first revision to the national planning framework arising from the public consultation on 8 April 2025. The Government approved a final draft revised national planning framework following the conclusion of the environmental assessments. One of the key drivers of the revision process related to the real need to reflect updated population and housing projections further to census 2022 and subsequent demographic changes. It is essential that we pull in the real numbers to inform this work.”
“The process also included the reconvening of the planning advisory forum, the establishment of an expert group, a cross-departmental group and an environmental assessment technical steering group. Engagement was also undertaken with the joint Oireachtas committee on housing on two occasions during the revision process. The draft first revision of the national planning framework and the associated environmental assessments was published in July 2024. A national public consultation ran from 10 July 2024 until 12 September 2024. An information campaign, including broadcast, print, digital and social media also ran to raise awareness of the consultation process and to encourage the public to engage with the first draft revision. A total of 272 submissions were received during the draft consultation stage.”
“It reflects the importance and the urgency of a co-ordinated, plan-led approach for the effective delivery of critical development, such as housing, employment and climate-resilient electricity generation. This is an addition to the facilities and services required to meet the needs of our citizens. I wish to give a brief overview of the revision process, which began formally on 20 June 2023. The Government gave approval to commence the process of undertaking the first revision of the national planning framework, in accordance with the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. The revision processes provided for a wide-ranging consultation, including stakeholders and the public.”
“I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the Final Draft Revised National Planning Framework, as approved by the Government on 8th April, 2025; a copy of which was laid before Dáil Éireann on 22nd April, 2025 together with the Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report, the Post-Consultation Natura Impact Statement, the Post-Consultation Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Report, and the Appropriate Assessment Determination. I welcome the opportunity to come before the House to discuss and seek approval for the final draft of the revised national planning framework, which was approved by the Government on 8 April 2025. The finalisation of the approval process for the revised national planning framework and plays a key role in the delivery of our broader objectives across the Government.”
“This will reduce the current pressure on the Ringsend wastewater treatment plant and release critical network capacity to Ringsend to support economic and residential development. The volume of wastewater generated in the greater Dublin area is projected to increase by more than 50% in the period to 2050. In the absence of this, the Ringsend plant will be at risk of operating beyond its design capacity. What I have outlined here is just a snapshot of the work Uisce Éireann and the whole Government are undertaking to secure Ireland’s water services into the future. This work is happening every day in our cities, towns and rural communities. I commend all the staff in Uisce Éireann, our local authorities and the State agencies involved.”
“This will create a treated water supply spine across the country, providing infrastructure with the capacity to serve communities along the route in counties Tipperary, Offaly and Westmeath. In addition, it will enable supplies currently serving Dublin to be redirected back to counties Louth, Meath, Kildare, Carlow and Wicklow, providing security of supply to homes and businesses which will support growth and regional development. On the wastewater side, the greater Dublin drainage project is critical to facilitating growth in the greater Dublin area. The new wastewater treatment plant will be situated in the southern fringes of Fingal, immediately outside the M50 motorway in County Dublin, and will serve the north-west quadrant of the existing Ringsend wastewater treatment catchment area.”
“It will deliver a safe, secure and sustainable source of water supply necessary to support our growing population and economy, including the demand for housing. The project will abstract water from the lower River Shannon at the Parteen Basin downstream of Lough Derg in County Tipperary, with water treatment nearby at Birdhill. The treated water will be pumped 170 km through counties Tipperary, Offaly and Kildare to a reservoir at Peamount in County Dublin, connecting into the greater Dublin water network. It will deliver secure and sustainable water supplies for more than 2.5 million people across the eastern and midlands region, with an estimated budget of between €4.6 billion and €6 billion.”
“The water supply project for the eastern and midlands region, which was approved in principle by Government in June 2024, is a major strategic investment in drinking water infrastructure. The existing water sources and infrastructure for the eastern and midlands region do not have the capacity or resilience to meet the region’s future needs. Many water sources in the region will be at capacity by the late 2020s and will be unable to cater for new connections for residential and commercial developments. The greater Dublin area is also over-reliant on a single source of water, with 85% of its water drawn from the River Liffey. The water supply project for the eastern and midlands region is the first major new source water infrastructure in the region in the last 60 years.”
“Uisce Éireann has consulted local authorities on their priority small towns and villages, which has resulted in an initial investment of more than €400 million. The programme for Government also commits to investing additional capital in Uisce Éireann to support reaching our new housing targets. We will prioritise water and wastewater infrastructure to deliver the capacity to facilitate housing development in our towns and villages. This additional funding will be considered as part of the NDP review which is due to be completed in the middle of the year. As well as funding development of our towns and villages, the Government is committed to supporting Uisce Éireann in the delivery of major national infrastructure.”
“With a view to adding further drive to the conservation effort, a national water conservation working group will be established to advise me on a future strategy for water conservation and prioritisation of resources during periods of water stress. My Department is currently drafting the terms of reference for that working group. The Government is committed to promoting development in rural communities. The small towns and villages growth programme is a national programme that caters for growth in smaller towns and villages with existing Uisce Éireann infrastructure. Through it, Uisce Éireann supports rural growth by investing in water services in areas that are identified and prioritised by local authorities in line with their county development plans.”
“For the period of the policy statement, this will involve the prioritisation of multifaceted programmes around leak detection and repair, network improvements, public awareness campaigns and funding to fix customer-side leaks. Every day, we lose approximately 37% of our treated water through leaks before it even reaches our taps. Leaks can be difficult to find because they happen in the vast and complex network of pipes below ground. Many of these pipes are now old and damaged and need to be repaired or replaced to improve our water quality and supply. Uisce Éireann is making progress. In 2018, the rate of leakage nationally was 46% and by the end of 2022, it was 37%. This is on track to achieve a national leakage rate of 25% and to save a further 200 million litres of water daily by the end of 2030.”
“The Water Services Policy Statement 2024-2030 was published in February 2024 following its approval by Government. The publication of the statement is a statutory requirement under the Water Services Act. The policy statement sets out a series of high-level policy objectives across the three thematic areas of availability and reliability, safety and quality, and sustainability, which must be pursued when planning capital investment and framing current spending plans. The policy statement supports the promotion of water conservation and water resources management as an important element of water services policy that is to be reflected in strategic investment planning by Uisce Éireann.”
“The CRU also has a role in protecting customers by setting quality of service standards and ensuring customers are treated fairly. The Environmental Protection Agency, on the other hand, is responsible for the regulation of drinking water quality and environmental oversight of Uisce Éireann. It monitors compliance with European Union standards for drinking water and for wastewater discharges. Uisce Éireann achieves a high level of compliance with these requirements and is actively addressing instances where its performance is falling short. It must be acknowledged, however, that where a significant investment is required with regard to a treatment plant, be it for drinking water or wastewater, there is often a significant timeframe required for planning, procuring, constructing and commissioning the new infrastructure.”
“This includes economic regulation exercised by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, and oversight of drinking water quality and wastewater discharges by the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA. The regulatory framework being applied by the CRU mirrors the approach that is applied to other utilities in Ireland and, in many instances, internationally. The essential output of the regulatory process is a multi-annual limit on the revenue that can be recovered by Uisce Éireann over a five-year period together with associated performance and customer service targets. This regulatory model reflects best international practice in bringing the challenge to Uisce Éireann to serve the needs of society and our economy.”
“Opportunities for those staff who do not seek to transfer to Uisce Éireann will be identified during the transition period to 2026. Local authorities will cease any involvement in the direct provision of water services to the public on and from 31 December 2026. There are extensive corporate governance arrangements in place in relation to Uisce Éireann in accordance with the code of practice for governance of State bodies. My Department maintains oversight of compliance with requirements relating to financial reporting and strategic planning, for example, alongside the obligations to report directly to me, as Minister, on major developments and compliance. The chair and CEO are accountable to the Committee of Public Accounts with regard to the annual accounts, while Uisce Éireann is also subject to robust independent regulatory oversight.”
“The impact of the structural changes has presented challenges and will continue to do so but my Department is committed to working with and supporting local authorities as they depart this key operational service. Uisce Éireann has ongoing supports in place for local authority staff who are considering transferring to it. These supports include information on training, benefits, work packages, structures and details on local issues. Those workers who choose not to voluntarily transfer to Uisce Éireann will remain in the direct employment of their current local authority, maintaining their current terms and conditions of employment. They may continue to work in water services, under the direction of Uisce Éireann, until 31 December 2026.”
“The objective is to deliver a world-class public water services authority that meets customer needs, operates in line with best practice, represents value for money and facilitates economic development in urban and rural locations. Only a national authority, backed by strong Government investment in water infrastructure, will deliver the standard of water and wastewater networks and environmental management systems required by Irish citizens and consumers in the 21st century. Moving the operation and control of water services from 31 local authorities to direct Uisce Éireann responsibility represents one of the largest public sector reform programmes in recent years, and certainly the largest affecting the local government sector.”
“The Water Services (Amendment) Act 2022, provided for the legal separation of Uisce Éireann from the Ervia Group, and changed the name of the company from Irish Water to Uisce Éireann. With effect from 1 January 2023, Uisce Éireann is solely owned by two shareholders, the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Government’s policy paper on water sector transformation, published in February 2021, sets the vision for water services based on the full integration of water services provided by 31 local authorities into one national authority, Uisce Éireann.”
“In addition to this sustained support for Uisce Eireann, the provision of additional capital investment to support housing development in our towns and villages will be considered in the context of the national development plan, NDP, review which is to be completed in the first half of this year. I would like to remind the House of the journey we have taken to get here. Irish Water, as it was then, was incorporated in July 2013 as a company under the Water Services Act 2013 responsible for bringing public water and wastewater services of the 31 local authorities together under one single national utility. In 2018, the Government announced that Irish Water would become a stand-alone, publicly owned, regulated utility.”
“This plan, which is a statutory requirement under water services legislation, specifies the arrangements that Uisce Éireann proposes to make to meet the policy objectives of the Government’s water services policy statement. The plan sets out Uisce Éireann's multi-annual strategic funding requirement of €16.9 billion to 2029, comprised of a €10.3 billion investment in infrastructure and assets and €6.6 billion in operating costs. This represents an unprecedented level of funding in our water infrastructure. For 2025, the Exchequer will provide to Uisce Éireann just over €2.2 billion.”
“I welcome the opportunity to reflect on the tremendous progress that has been made in water services in Ireland and the ongoing efforts of the Government and Uisce Éireann in this area. I assure the House that securing a safe and reliable water supply is a top priority for the Government, as is securing water services to facilitate housing development in all parts of the country. It is worth reflecting on the fact that in the last ten years Uisce Éireann has ramped up capital delivery for water services and infrastructure from €300 million in 2014 to roughly €1.3 billion in 2024. Last November, the then Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, approved Uisce Éireann's strategic funding plan 2025 to 2029.”
“While I have no doubt that Sinn Féin is not going to resile from its position, people at home are looking at the Dáil, in the context of the threats to this State, and seeing this kind of nonsense proliferated by the other side of the House for distraction and misdirection. That is really disappointing and unfortunate.”
“When the previous Government proposed doing it, Sinn Féin did not bring forward any legislation because it was not on the front page of the national newspapers. Here, we have an opportunity for a little media attention, which is why Sinn Féin has jumped on it, even though it is the clear intention of this Government not to do so. The Government has no legal power to bring in water charges without additional legislation. It is extremely frustrating that we are dealing here with a distortion of the truth and a misdirection from Sinn Féin. It is in line with what has been going on in recent weeks.”
“The global warfare around tariffs, with major nations pitching against each other, is an enormous threat to this State, its financial well-being and, in turn, what it can do going forward. We need to work together in this Dáil to deal with that threat. Instead of dealing with that threat and the international threats to this State, however, Sinn Féin Deputies are coming in here to debate phantom legislation in order to get social media clips to whip up fear and anger about something that is simply not true. Their evidence is all based on a statement from an official that was prepared for a brief. They know the difference between an official’s note and a political decision. We made it very clear after Sinn Féin came out with its statement that we would not be introducing water conservation charges in the lifetime of this Government.”
“While I understand Sinn Féin is reeling from losing more than 20% of its vote in the general election and is taking an approach that for the lifetime of this Government, it will abandon credibility and responsibility, what is proposed here goes to a whole new level. Sinn Féin is coming forward with legislation to deal with phantom alarm bells going off in its head. What is proposed here is simply disingenuous. It is not necessary and is a waste of Government and Dáil time. This week, we are facing some of the most extraordinary threats to the economy of this country that have been seen in almost 20 years. These are coming from a global situation. We are facing a real risk of a recession.”
“It is extraordinary how many of the Sinn Féin Deputies never even mentioned water conservation, preferring instead, for their social media clips, to give a sense that this is actually a debate about water charges, which the Government has no legal power to introduce, as the Deputies know only too well. Sinn Féin is bringing forward legislation to prohibit something we are already prohibited from doing. Legislation would have to be brought in to give the Government the power to do it. All this misdirection is coming from a statement from one official put into a brief to prepare for the Minister coming in. I was not even the Minister when that was prepared. Sinn Féin Deputies are deliberately trying to confuse in the minds of the public what is an official statement and what is a political decision. It is very disconcerting.”
“I appreciate the need for developments in water conservation and am committed to working with An Fóram Uisce to build upon its current research to realise the most effective outcomes in enhancing the delivery of water conservation nationally. To help drive this conservation effort, a national water conservation working group will be established to advise me on a future strategy for water conservation and prioritisation of resources during periods of water stress. The introduction of the household water conservation charge is not in the programme for Government and the charge will not be introduced.”
“Excessive water usage is regularly associated with customer side losses through leakage. As a water conservation measure, meters give the water supplier the capability to identify potential leaks quickly through an analysis of its customers' usage profiles. With regard to public water services, Uisce Éireann must continue to communicate the importance of water conservation to its customers. An Fóram Uisce published a policy position on water conservation in June 2023. This position outlines the need for the importance of water conservation in Ireland and its priority recommendations call for a committed Government strategy for water conservation, including a programme of actions to implement water conservation nationally and the establishment of a national conservation team to lead that water conservation strategy.”
“Water is a precious resource and although there is enough annual rainfall in Ireland, we are limited in how much water we can take from the environment. By only using what we need, we can all play our part in safeguarding our water for our future. Uisce Éireann's national water resources plan introduces three solution pillars - lose less, use less and supply smarter - to ensure we have sustainable water supplies to meet our future needs. Water meters provide valuable information on water consumption rates to the water supplier. This information is used to manage service delivery, plan for future demand and identify excessive water usage. The identification of excessive water usage allows the water supplier to engage directly on demand management with the occupier.”
“A cross-departmental strategy to increase water conservation in all new domestic buildings should incorporate water conservation fittings. These are addressed in the Water Services Policy Statement 2024-2030, which was published in February 2024. It emphasises the high-level objectives and priorities for the provision of water services, including water supply and wastewater treatment to 2030. Sustainability is one of the key objectives of the water services policy, with the objective that water services will be efficient, resilient and sustainable in the long term. Under this objective, the priorities are to ensure public water services are sustainable, climate targets are met for the sector and water conservation forms a cornerstone of water policy.”
“The 2024-25 Green Schools water ambassador programme was formally launched late last year and Uisce Éireann supports Green Schools through events such as the annual walk for water, which coincides with World Water Day on 22 March. In recommendation 5.7, the committee recommends that the principle of open data be adopted for water research purposes and the data collected by the water utility, the CRU and the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, be provided to the public water forum and society for analysis and decision-making purposes. The principle of open data has been adopted by Uisce Éireann and the EPA and the data is freely available online. There are a number of other recommendations, including that the conservation of water resources be embedded as a principle of water policy in Ireland.”