Irish coalition promises to honour Irish Water’s capital programme

Ireland’s incoming three-party coalition government has agreed a draft programme for the next five years which commits the administration to retain Irish Water in public ownership “as a national, standalone, regulated utility”.

The Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Green parties have also committed to fund the company’s current €8.5 billion capital programme of water and wastewater projects. This was approved and set out two years ago in the Republic’s national infrastructure plan, Project Ireland 2040.

The programme makes it clear that Irish Water will be expected to do more to cut leakage levels as well as reduce Trihalomethane (THM) exceedance in treatment plants.

The new-look administration has committed to launch a new, revised and strengthened river basin management plan in 2022.

In addition, the parties have promised a series of pilot projects to incorporate onsite renewable energy generation at water and wastewater treatment plants. Research into innovative ways to improve water infrastructure and reduce consumption is on the cards, too.

Also pledged is a study which will examine what further help can be given to low-income households to install water efficient appliances.

The parties want Irish Water and local authorities to create a nationwide network of drinking water fountains in a bid to reduce plastic bottle litter.