Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 November 2023
247. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which the provision of utilities such as electricity and water to new houses is currently limiting progress in the construction sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49233/23]
View answerHousing for All recognises that in order to create the environment needed to enable supply of over 300,000 new homes by 2030, land needs to be serviced with transport, utilities and other infrastructure. Housing for All provides for this ‘whole of system’ approach. In line with Action 22.6 of the Housing for All Action Plan Update (November 2022) both Uisce Éireann and the ESB are enhancing measures to ensure the timely delivery of housing connections and to clearly identify responsibilities of those building homes, and Uisce Éireann and ESB in advance of completing connections. With regard to water, Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. The scope, prioritisation and progression of individual projects is a matter for Uisce Éireann and is approved through its own internal governance structures.
Uisce Éireann is committed to supporting the delivery of housing including under Housing for All and provides my Department with updates containing key information on how they are supporting the housing plan by providing water services to new homes, key public services and businesses. Uisce Éireann is supporting the delivery of Housing for All through a number of actions, including the timely delivery of housing connections.
In this regard, to be of assistance, Uisce Éireann has provided the following information which covers the period January 2023 – September 2023:
• Pre-connection enquiries: Uisce Éireann gave positive responses to 2,403 pre-connection enquiries associated with 71,867 housing units.
• Connection offers: Uisce Éireann issued 3,600 connection offers associated with 32,926 housing units.
• Connection agreements: Customers executed connection agreements for 2,772 offers, associated with 24,018 housing units.
• Connections: Uisce Éireann completed 4,427 connections to water infrastructure associated with 26,557 housing units.
Uisce Éireann has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 0818 578 578.
My Department does not have responsibility for electricity supply and as such does not hold information in relation to electricity along the lines set out in the Question.
