Kilkenny communities set to benefit from new critical infrastructure funding

Fianna Fáil TD for North Tipperary and Northwest Kilkenny, Ryan O’Meara has welcomed Government approval of a new mechanism to provide €2 billion in capital funding to Uisce Éireann to expand water and wastewater infrastructure and support the delivery of 300,000 new homes by 2030.

The dedicated funding will increase capacity in communities across the country, helping to remove infrastructure constraints that have delayed or prevented housing development.

The investment will be delivered through two targeted programmes, the first is made up of €1.7 billion for the Growth Investment Programme, supporting water and wastewater in 72 settlements where infrastructure upgrades can unlock significant housing development.

Second, €300m for the Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme is aimed to support wastewater infrastructure in communities with populations below 2,000 and help to facilitate housing growth in rural and regional areas.

Speaking about the announcement, Deputy O’Meara said: “Delivering homes at the scale we need depends on having the infrastructure in place to support them. This investment will expand water and wastewater capacity and help unlock housing developments that could not otherwise proceed.”

“As towns across North Tipperary and Northwest Kilkenny continue to grow in population and regional importance, it is essential that local infrastructure keeps pace. This funding will help provide the capacity needed to build more homes and support the continued development of our communities.”

“Investment in infrastructure today will deliver lasting benefits by enabling sustainable growth, strengthening essential services and improving quality of life for residents. This package will make our water network more resilient, support existing communities and create the capacity needed for future housing and economic development,” he concluded.

Article funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme