Uisce Éireann leaving homeowners ‘high and dry’ says Corkery

Fine Gael Councillor Luke Corkery has demanded urgent action to address ongoing delays in connecting new-build homes to public water and wastewater infrastructure.

Cllr. Corkery, who represents the Swords LEA on Fingal County Council said: “It’s a very sorry state of affairs when prospective homeowners, who have been approved for mortgages and who are buying furniture for their new homes, are left high and dry by Uisce Éireann’s failure to connect new-build housing to basic infrastructure.

“I spoke to a family last week who are now having to reapply for mortgage approval because, despite their new home being practically ready, Uisce Éireann has given no indication of when they intend to connect the 40 houses in this development to the water system. They’re being completely kept in the dark. It’s unacceptable.

“The Programme for Government commits to supporting Uisce Éireann in the delivery of key strategic projects, and that is reflected in funding of over €2.2 billion in Budget 2025 and a pledge to spend the Apple tax windfall on critical infrastructure.

“However, the Tánaiste has already made it very clear that any funding going to Uisce Éireann will be contingent on Uisce Éireann outlining their plan to develop the water and wastewater infrastructure we need to deliver more homes.

“Under the revised National Planning Framework, local authorities will commit to a large-scale rezoning of land and the doubling of our housing output. As we prepare to do that, I too would like assurances that our utility companies have a plan to facilitate access to infrastructure and meet the scale of the demand nationwide. This is a two-way street.

“It’s a welcome development that the Government is establishing a new Infrastructure Division in the Department of Public Expenditure led by a Deputy Secretary General, and a new Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure to cut through red tape and deliver the infrastructure we need.

“The most pressing issue impacting my constituents in Fingal is infrastructure – from water, to electricity, to roads, to public transport. Government has committed to stepping up its game to deliver infrastructure in a time-efficient manner; it’s time Uisce Éireann commits to delivering too”, Cllr. Corkery concluded.