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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Utilities and construction inflation

Summary

Deputy Durkan asks for an audit of how utility availability and connection delays are affecting construction costs and inflation. The Minister says housing delivery depends on services, points to a new national capacity register and a €6 billion Irish Water capital plan.

Bernard Durkan Deputy Bernard J. Durkan Fine Gael

Inflation has become an ever-increasing feature in our economy and society, especially in the construction sector. I appreciate the measures being taken by the Minister. Will his Department undertake an audit into the impact that unavailability and reliability of the provision of utilities such as water, sewage and utility connections on individual sites across the country is having on the construction sector and inflation?

Comment on this

I thank Deputy Durkan for raising this matter. The provision of homes is dependent on us having the requisite services in place. I have worked directly with Irish Water on that. For the first time, we have published a capacity register that covers every town, village and city across the country, so we can clearly see the capacity in each area. We have a €6 billion capital plan between now and 2026 for Irish Water to deliver the water infrastructure that we require. The Government has, through the Housing for All plan, asked utilities to focus on ensuring we are able to raise the housing targets that we have set. That is crucially important. That is regularly reiterated to them. We work with our partners in the utilities to ensure that is done. We have seen some improvements on the water side over the last months.

Comment on this