Court challenge settled over proposed Dublin drainage project
Kenneth Fox
Uisce Éireann has reached an agreement to settle judicial review proceedings initiated in the High Court concerning aspects of the Greater Dublin Drainage Project.
They said the settlement was achieved following constructive engagement between all parties and avoids the need for a full court hearing.
As part of the agreement, Uisce Éireann committed to some additional measures to further enhance public confidence in the environmental benefits of the project.
They said they acknowledge and appreciate the decision of the courts to expedite the judicial review proceedings for the Greater Dublin Drainage Project and remain committed to working collaboratively and transparently with all stakeholders to deliver sustainable solutions that protect our environment and support future growth.
They said the Greater Dublin Drainage Project remains vital to ensuring sustainable wastewater treatment capacity for the region.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne, welcomed the news and said: “I am very pleased at reports that a settlement that is acceptable to all sides has been reached.
"The Greater Dublin Drainage (GDD) project is a critical infrastructure project, not just for Dublin, but also for our national water infrastructure more generally.
“Crucially, the outcome is very good news for new homes, given the urgent need to accelerate housing supply in North Dublin and its surrounds.
"It is a major step forward in addressing wastewater infrastructure in Dublin, unlocking greater development potential by providing essential increased wastewater treatment capacity."
The Greater Dublin Drainage project (GDD) is a strategic investment priority in Project Ireland 2040, the National Development Plan 2018-2027.
The project will provide a new regional wastewater treatment facility and associated infrastructure to North Dublin and its surrounding areas for the equivalent of half a million people living and working across the Greater Dublin Area (GDA).
In addition to the GDD, the Water Supply Project-Eastern and Midlands Region (WSP-EMR) was approved in principle by the Government in June 2024.
It is a generational project that will address the water supply deficit and lack of capacity for growth in the Eastern and Midlands Region by supplying water from a hydropower reservoir on the Shannon River.
It will provide the capacity to deliver secure and sustainable water supplies for over 2.5 million people across the Eastern and Midlands Region.
The revised NDP 2026-2030 provides record funding of €12.2 billion for the water sector, of which €11.7 billion will be allocated to Uisce Éireann to support the delivery of large projects and critical infrastructure required to deliver 300,000 new dwellings by 2030.
This funding includes €2.5 billion to support the delivery of large projects, namely the GDD and WSP-EMR.
