942. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation his engagement with the Minister for Housing and Uisce Éireann from a point of view of delivering on infrastructural deficits through the NDP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59414/26]

As Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitisation, my Department is responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across sectors under the National Development Plan. The revised National Development Plan, published in July 2025 set out €275.4 billion in public capital investment to 2035 – the largest and most significant capital injection in our economy in the history of the State.

As part of the NDP review, I had significant bilateral engagement with all sectoral Ministers regarding their needs for the 2026 to 2030 period, in addition to the capability to deliver on their plans. This included a number of meetings between Minister Browne and I, in relation to all aspects of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage remit including water/wastewater. Officials in my Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage would have had further engagement on specific aspects of the capital profile for that sector and the requirements for Uisce Éireann funding over the next 5 years. Also, informing this process was the work of the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities, the economic regulator for the water sector.

In total, Uisce Éireann is being provided with just under €12.2 billion, for 2026 to 2030, from NDP funds. From the core Exchequer allocations, Uisce Éireann is provided with €7.68 billion over 2026 to 2030 to support their ongoing regular work to build resilience in the water and wastewater infrastructure, and deliver previously planned growth in the system. Further to this, €4.5 billion of equity funding and fund releases is being provided for the period to 2030 to support the delivery of their two largest major projects and to support further growth to meet enhanced housing targets. Of the €4.5 billion, €2 billion will support additional growth across the water and wastewater system to allow for the delivery of 300,000 homes by 2030, and the remaining €2.5 billion will support the delivery of the Water Supply Project and the Greater Dublin Drainage project. This enhanced Government support into the funding plan for Uisce Éireann is to ensure that water and wastewater capacity will be put in place over 5 years to support the Government’s wider housing, social infrastructure and competitiveness objectives under the NDP.

Management and delivery of investment projects and public services within allocation and the national frameworks is a key responsibility of every Agency, Department, Accounting Officer and Minister.

Following on from the setting of Departmental medium term capital expenditure ceilings in the revised NDP, sectoral plans were published by Departments at the end of 2025 which included planned investments and projects across the country. The sectoral plan for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage included a detailed chapter on the investment plans for the water sector to meet the objectives of the wider NDP, including a range of projects and critical infrastructure works. Delivery of the specific plans within the water sector will ensure there are no constraints imposed on wider NDP delivery.

Across 2025 and 2026, my Department and I have worked closely with Uisce Éireann and their parent Department around their ability to further accelerate infrastructure delivery. Analysis and inputs from Uisce Éireann informed the development of the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan, including a number of the legislative and regulatory reforms targeted to accelerate delivery in the water and wastewater sectors. This dialogue has continued across 2026, with evidence that initial reforms made have assisted Uisce Éireann projects to advance through project planning more quickly.