Uisce Éireann has welcomed the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to grant the licence for the Greater Dublin Drainage Project, calling it a major milestone and one of the final statutory approvals needed for the scheme.

The project is designed to expand wastewater treatment for growing communities across the Greater Dublin Area, enabling the delivery of new homes, schools, healthcare facilities, businesses and community amenities while ensuring wastewater is treated and safely returned to the environment. Once operational, it is expected to provide capacity equivalent to around half a million people living and working in the region.

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne TD said: "The Greater Dublin Drainage project is as critical as much as it is ambitious. "This project will enable us to drive on with the work set out in the housing action plan, underpinning the infrastructure for the delivery of tens of thousands of homes in the Greater Dublin area. "Today's licence approval is an important milestone, of that there is no doubt. Uisce Éireann will move now to accelerate the delivery of this project."

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Commenting on the decision, Uisce Éireann's Director of Infrastructure Delivery, Maria O'Dwyer, said: "The EPA's decision to grant the Wastewater Discharge Licence is an important step forward for the Greater Dublin Drainage Project. It reflects the extensive environmental assessment and planning behind the project. "This is essential infrastructure for communities across the Greater Dublin Area. It will provide the wastewater capacity needed to support up to 185,000 new homes, as well as schools, businesses and community amenities. It will also support economic growth and protect the environment for future generations. "Today's decision completes the project's primary statutory consenting process. It brings us a significant step closer to delivering infrastructure that will support sustainable housing and growth across the region for decades to come."

The scheme comprises a new regional wastewater treatment facility and sludge hub centre at Clonshaugh, an underground orbital sewer from Blanchardstown to Clonshaugh, a pumping station at Abbotstown and associated marine outfall infrastructure.

Procurement is progressing, with preliminary construction works expected to begin before the end of 2026. Uisce Éireann said it is working with stakeholders to support accelerated delivery of the project by 2031.

Greater Dublin Drainage forms a key part of long-term investment in wastewater services, aimed at delivering reliable, resilient infrastructure for Dublin and the wider Greater Dublin Area to support communities and sustainable growth into the future.