Two Mayo towns included in €2 billion investment
Castlebar and Ballina are among the 72 cities, towns and villages across Ireland identified by Uisce Éireann as priority locations for investment to help unlock new homes and support growing communities. These locations, in conjunction with rural areas and other communities, will benefit from the Government’s additional €2 billion funding programme announced as part of the National Development Plan.
Both Castlebar and Ballina were identified through a detailed review of national, regional and local development plans, focusing on locations where significant growth is planned and where investment can help unlock housing, support sustainable development and deliver the greatest benefit for communities. The full list of the priority locations is now available on the Uisce Éireann website here.
By sharing this information with local authorities, housing and planning bodies, and industry stakeholders, Uisce Éireann is helping to provide greater certainty around where strategic water and wastewater investment can support housing and growing communities.
The €2 billion allocation is in addition to the €10.2 billion already secured by Uisce Éireann under the National Development Plan to support environmental compliance, public health, growth, and safe secure water and wastewater services nationwide. This additional funding is specifically focused on unlocking capacity for housing growth and development.
Alongside the €1.7 billion investment in priority growth locations, a further €300 million has been allocated to support housing and development in rural communities. This funding will help towns and villages realise their development potential by providing the water and wastewater capacity needed to support new homes, local economies and growing communities across rural Ireland.
Sean Laffey, Asset Management and Sustainability Director, Uisce Éireann, said:
"Water and wastewater services are essential to every community. They support homes, schools, businesses and the services people rely on every day. We would like to thank the Government for this additional €2 billion investment which will help create the water and wastewater capacity needed to support new homes and enable communities across Ireland to grow and thrive. By identifying these priority locations, we are providing greater clarity for local authorities, government departments, developers and other stakeholders, helping improve coordination across the housing sector and supporting the delivery of new homes and stronger communities.
“The initial focus on 72 cities, towns and villages, alongside dedicated investment in rural communities, will create the capacity needed to support new homes, enable economic growth and help communities across Ireland reach their full potential."