Uisce Éireann to take over wastewater facilities from developers in minister's plan

Housing minister James Browne has said that he is determined to 'unlock problematic water services infrastructure that is constraining the delivery of homes people need built'

James Browne has pushed forward in making Uisce Éireann facilitate the development of wastewater infrastructure by the private sector.

Uisce Éireann is to be told to ”get things moving” by housing minister James Browne this week.

Mr Browne has pushed forward in making the entity formerly known as Irish Water facilitate the development of wastewater infrastructure by the private sector. This is seen as a major blockage to activating smaller pockets of land suitable for housing in rural towns and villages.

Under new plans being brought by the minister, Uisce Éireann will be responsible for “securing compliance with wastewater discharge regulations” with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and will enter into agreements to take ownership of the infrastructure.

This means that once the developer has delivered the water system locally on the site, and as long as it is up to EPA-approved standards, Uisce Éireann will have to take it over.

Mr Browne has said that he is determined to “unlock problematic water services infrastructure that is constraining the delivery of homes people need built”.

It is understood that Mr Browne has said that he “will not tolerate unnecessary delays” to the speed of delivery of infrastructure, and he now intends to expand “at pace“ the possibilities for the private sector to do more.

Developers themselves will fund the wastewater infrastructure serving their development, while Uisce Éireann will take over its running.

Apprenticeship system

Meanwhile, further education minister James Lawless will tell Cabinet that he has "taken decisive steps" to strengthen Ireland’s apprenticeship system. 

He will tell ministers that a record €79m investment in Budget 2026 will resolve a €40m funding shortfall and "restore confidence in the integrity of apprenticeship assessments". 

Tánaiste Simon Harris will seek Cabinet approval to establish a new office of veterans affairs.

The proposed office is expected to be used to provide greater support to retired Defence Forces personnel, of whom there are 145,000.

The new office is set to be based within the Department of Defence, and it will work across the Government and with Defence Forces representative bodies to assist the needs of veterans and their families.

Mr Harris is expected to outline that the office itself is being established to recognise the contribution veterans have made at home and in peacekeeping missions abroad. It is expected that the office will be used to assist in drafting a future veterans policy.

Elsewhere, enterprise minister Peter Burke is set to seek formal government approval for a new tourism strategy. The plan itself is not expected to be launched for a number of weeks.

Also at Cabinet, children's minister Norma Foley is bringing a memo about the appointment of six new board members to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. The six commissioners have been independently recommended by the Public Appointments Service for appointment following a recruitment campaign.

Finance minister Paschal Donohoe is to update Cabinet on new research carried out by his department on Ireland’s long-term needs out to 2065.

The report examines demographic and structural trends that may impact Ireland over the next four decades, particularly focusing on housing, health, climate, deglobalisation, digitalisation, and EU enlargements.

It outlines 200 possible economic and fiscal scenarios, ranging from positive, where Ireland’s economy continues to grow, or more negative outcomes where the economy stagnates.

The report also assesses long-term impacts on the existing economy of challenges like housing, increased costs for the healthcare system due to ageing and possible trade and migration impacts of additional EU expansion.