Water Infrastructure Project Plans To Shore Up Wicklow Supply For Decades To Come

Uisce Éireann is preparing to submit a planning application this week for the Water Supply Project Eastern and Midlands Region that could boost Wicklow until 2050

Wicklow is set to play a pivotal role in what is being hailed as the largest-ever water infrastructure project in Irish history.

Uisce Éireann is preparing to submit a Strategic Infrastructure Development planning application, alongside a Compulsory Purchase Order, to An Coimisiún Pleanála this week for the Water Supply Project Eastern and Midlands Region.

The submission will include over 500 separate documents, reflecting the unprecedented scale and complexity of the undertaking.

The Eastern and Midlands region currently faces significant challenges in water supply, largely due to its over-reliance on a single source to provide for 1.7 million people.

Wicklow, alongside Dublin, Meath, and Kildare, will benefit directly from a resilient, safe, and secure water supply designed to meet the demands of a growing population and economy.

The project also addresses climate change by diversifying water sources and increasing supply resilience.

Once completed, the initiative will establish a treated water supply ‘spine’ stretching across the country, with infrastructure capable of serving additional communities in Tipperary, Offaly, and Westmeath.

For Wicklow, this means improved security of supply, with the ability to redirect water to support homes and businesses, fostering regional development and supporting future growth.

Construction is projected to commence in 2028, subject to planning approval, with completion within five years. The estimated project cost ranges between €4.58 billion and €5.96 billion, representing an investment that could return more than €10 for every €1 spent—a significant boost for the State and the local economy.

During peak construction, the project will directly employ over 1,000 people, with additional economic benefits flowing through local suppliers and services.

Wicklow communities hosting construction and infrastructure will also benefit from a bespoke Community Benefit Scheme, including a multi-million euro Community Gain Investment Fund.

Uisce Éireann has engaged in a public consultation alreadt. Over the coming months, a dedicated Community Liaison Officer will visit communities across County Wicklow and the wider region to provide information and engage with stakeholders.

Landowner Liaison Officers will also maintain ongoing support for those directly impacted by the project.

Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers TD, emphasised the importance of the project...

“The submission of this planning application for the Water Supply Project is a major milestone that will unlock housing in the Eastern and Midlands Region… sustain businesses and communities right through the Midlands and Eastern region.”

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Maria O’Dwyer, Infrastructure Delivery Director at Uisce Éireann, highlighted the urgency of the project:

“The growing water supply deficit and lack of supply resilience in the Eastern & Midlands Region is simply not sustainable. It is estimated that 34% more water will be needed by 2044 in the Greater Dublin Area. This project is critical to enable us to support housing delivery and is backed by the Government’s continued funding commitment.”

The Water Supply Project plans to draw water from Parteen Basin on the Lower River Shannon, treating it near Birdhill, Co Tipperary, before transporting it via a 170km pipeline through Tipperary, Offaly, and Kildare to a termination reservoir at Peamount, Dublin, linking into the Greater Dublin Area water network.

This route ensures that Wicklow, along with neighbouring counties, will enjoy a reliable, future-proof water supply capable of meeting demand for decades to come.

For Wicklow residents and businesses, this marks the beginning of a new era in water security, underpinning housing growth, economic development, and regional resilience, all while supporting Ireland’s broader climate adaptation goals.