Latest news with #MariaO'Dwyer
Irish Independent
10-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Green light for €1.3bn wastewater treatment plant in north Dublin
The major €1.3bn wastewater treatment scheme has been in the planning process for at least six years, and was designed to ease pressure on the Ringsend wastewater treatment plant in Dublin city currently operating at capacity, and provide for the growing needs of homes and industry. Currently half of Ireland's wastewater is treated in the greater Dublin area, with 40pc of it being treated in Ringsend. The scheme, which was applied for by Uisce Eireann, was deemed necessary because the volume of wastewater generated in the greater Dublin area is projected to increase by 50pc up to 2050 due to population and economic growth. The new regional wastewater treatment facility will be built on a 30-hectare site at Clonshaugh in north Dublin and will service north Dublin as well as parts of Meath and Kildare - a population of half a million people. There will also be an underground orbital sewer from Blanchardstown to Clonshaugh bringing wastewater in. An outfall pipe at Baldoyle will return treated wastewater to a discharge point 6km out to sea. The project is expected to become operational in 2032. Uisce Éireann today welcomed the planning approval of the Greater Dublin Drainage Project. Commenting on the decision, Uisce Éireann's Infrastructure Delivery Director Maria O'Dwyer said: 'Uisce Éireann is delighted to reach this significant milestone. The delivery of the Greater Dublin Drainage project is a key part of Uisce Éireann's investment in new wastewater infrastructure in Greater Dublin and will facilitate housing and growth, protect public health into the future.' 'The project was first submitted for planning in 2018 and since that time, population and economic growth means the volume of wastewater we are producing has continued to grow, so the delivery of this critical infrastructure project is more important than ever. ADVERTISEMENT 'Current projections are that the amount of wastewater generated in the Greater Dublin Area, including parts of Wicklow, Kildare and Meath, will increase by over 50pc in the period to 2050. The delivery of this essential project on the northside of Dublin, in addition to the upgrade to the Ringsend Treatment Plant on the southside of the City, will provide the capacity and resilience to support economic and social development for many years to come,' she added. Uisce Eireann said the project will increase the development potential of Dublin and parts of the surrounding counties by providing new infrastructure that will alleviate pressure within the existing wastewater network. It is now reviewing the grant of permissions and its attached conditions. The next phase of work involves completing the remaining pre-construction statutory processes and progressing the procurement of contractors to construct the project. Given the scale and complexity of the project it anticipates construction works will extend over a four-year period. There is now an eight-week window during which objectors can take a judicial review.
Irish Daily Mirror
10-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Beleaguered water treatment plant gets green light after seven year delay
A water project that has been the subject of seven years of legal proceedings has finally been given the green light. Uisce Éireann confirmed that planning approval for the Greater Dublin Drainage (GDD) Project in Clonshaugh had been granted by An Coimisiún Pleanála. Its CEO, Niall Gleeson, previously estimated that due to a seven year delay in the project due to judicial reviews to the planning application, the cost had ballooned from €600m to €1.2bn. Uisce Éireann's Infrastructure Delivery Director Maria O'Dwyer described the Greater Dublin Drainage project as a 'key part of Uisce Éireann's investment in new wastewater infrastructure in Greater Dublin' that 'will facilitate housing and growth, protect public health into the future'. She said: 'The Greater Dublin Drainage Project was first submitted for planning in 2018 and since that time, population and economic growth means the volume of wastewater we are producing has continued to grow, so the delivery of this critical infrastructure project is more important than ever. 'Current projections are that the amount of wastewater generated in the Greater Dublin Area including parts of Wicklow, Kildare and Meath will increase by over 50% in the period to 2050. 'The delivery of this essential project on the northside of Dublin in addition to the upgrade to the Ringsend Treatment Plant on the southside of the City (to be complete by the end of this year) will provide the capacity and resilience to support economic and social development for many years to come'. Mr Gleeson criticised the delay of this project during the official opening of the Arklow Wastewater Treatment Plant in May. He stated: 'I would say that if you took it, the taxpayer and the State, it is probably in the billions [that is being lost]. Private entities are losing a fortune through this kind of stuff as well. 'I know there's a lot of work being done on the planning process and, actually, a lot of the planning process works pretty well with the local authorities and An Bórd Pleanála, 'But it's the ones that are tricky to get through, the larger projects, that I think we need extra support. But that cost is real.'
RTÉ News
10-07-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Breaking Planning granted for Greater Dublin Drainage Project
Planning approval has been given to a major €1.3 billion drainage scheme for Dublin which is critical to the provision of housing in future years. Uisce Éireann said it had received the green light for the Greater Dublin Drainage Project from An Coimisiún Pleanála, formerly An Bord Pleanála. The scheme services north Dublin and parts of Meath and Kildare and will provide wastewater treatment for half a million people. While the project has received planning, there is an eight-week window during which objectors can take a judicial review. The project is important because the treatment plant in Ringsend is currently at full capacity. Uisce Éireann's Infrastructure Delivery Director Maria O'Dwyer said the scheme "was first submitted for planning in 2018 and since that time, population and economic growth means the volume of wastewater we are producing has continued to grow, so the delivery of this critical infrastructure project is more important than ever." The project consists of a new regional wastewater treatment facility on a 30-acre site at Clonshaugh. There will also be an underground orbital sewer from Blanchardstown to Clonshaugh and an outfall pipe at Baldoyle to return treated wastewater to a discharge point 6km out to sea. Uisce Éireann is also working to upgrade the Ringsend treatment plant. While the Greater Dublin Drainage Project will not be operational until 2032, the capital faced the danger of some homes being turned down for planning if the project did not proceed.
