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

Uisce Éireann bonuses and penalties

Summary

Deputy Farrelly challenged Uisce Éireann paying performance bonuses while the regulator imposed a large negative revenue adjustment for leakage failures. The Taoiseach said he would ask the Minister to raise it with Uisce Éireann and acknowledged both leakage and wastewater concerns.

The utilities regulator recently imposed a €31 million negative revenue adjustment on Uisce Éireann for underperformance and failures relating to its leakage performance target. Meanwhile, Uisce Éireann is giving out performance-related bonuses to its management teams. Its annual report for 2025 shows €18 million worth of bonuses have been paid. How can I explain to people in Kildare, who are so often without water, that the regulator has imposed a €31 million fine on a body that at the same time is choosing to pay 94% of its staff their full performance-related bonus, to the tune of €18 million?

Comment on this

I will ask the Minister to engage with Uisce Éireann on that specific issue. In some areas, it is performing. The €31 million negative finding in terms of leakage is clearly an issue. It is not just to do with leakage. There have also been issues articulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, in terms of lapses to do with the operation of wastewater treatment plants in some areas. Overall, however, Uisce Éireann is investing a lot and getting a lot done in respect of the upgrading of our water infrastructure and in terms of newer wastewater treatment plants. Those getting bonuses could be the people who are performing well in achieving objectives the company has set itself. We cannot just juxtapose the two and assume the bonuses apply to those are not performing on the leakage front.

Comment on this