Smyth welcomes private sector role in developing Wastewater Systems

The move will in particular benefit projects of up to 40 homes

Fianna Fáil Minister Niamh Smyth has welcomed a new government initiative that will allow private builders to collaborate with Uisce Éireann in developing wastewater treatment facilities for smaller housing projects.

The move will in particular benefit projects of up to 40 homes, she said, and marks an important step toward accelerating homebuilding, particularly in rural towns and villages where infrastructure delays have often hindered progress.

“This measure will help unshackle home delivery from unnecessary delays in rural areas,” Minister Smyth said, describing the initiative as part of a broader government effort to increase housing supply and improve the speed of infrastructure delivery across Ireland.

Under the new arrangements, low-volume wastewater systems serving up to 40 homes will be authorised through a streamlined registration process, expected to be operational by early 2026. Minister Smyth noted that this system will offer greater planning certainty for developers, local authorities such as Cavan and Monaghan County Councils, and local communities by ensuring a consistent and transparent approach to assessing and approving wastewater solutions for smaller housing schemes.

She highlighted that the measure complements a series of recent government actions aimed at addressing Ireland’s housing and infrastructure challenges. These include extending Rent Pressure Zones nationwide, finalising the National Planning Framework, reducing VAT on apartment construction, and enacting the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2025, which addresses expiring planning permissions and supports the activation of stalled housing projects.

Looking ahead, Smyth confirmed that the Government will soon publish its new Housing Strategy, designed to work in tandem with Minister Jack Chambers’ efforts to reduce bureaucracy surrounding major infrastructure developments. “We are going to build the homes and provide the infrastructure we need to grow and thrive as a country,” she said.

Concluding her remarks, Minister Smyth emphasised Fianna Fáil’s commitment to supporting housing delivery nationwide: “Fianna Fáil, along with Minister for Housing James Browne, is leaving no stone unturned in accelerating the delivery of new homes across the country, including in our rural communities.”