Ireland's national water utility Uisce Éireann has confirmed that preparatory works have begun on the Greater Dublin Drainage (GDD) Project, following the submission of a planning application in December 2025. This marks a decisive step forward for one of the country's most strategically significant water infrastructure undertakings.
The project is designed to deliver wastewater treatment capacity equivalent to a population of 500,000 people, while enabling the construction of up to 185,000 new homes across north Dublin and adjacent areas of counties Meath and Kildare.
Early activities are currently progressing across three sites, Abbottstown, Clonshaugh and Silloge, encompassing archaeological investigations, access establishment, and the installation of fencing and hoarding. They have been scheduled to minimise disruption to the public and to align with third-party projects in the area.
Progress is also advancing on the marine front. A Maritime Usage Licence, granted by the Maritime Regulator in March 2026, will enable surveys and site investigations in Portmarnock Bay, where a temporary barge is expected to be deployed from June 2026.
Preliminary construction works are expected to begin before the end of 2026, with main works scheduled to commence in 2028. The project is on course for completion in 2031.
Eoin Ahern, Senior Portfolio Manager at Uisce Éireann, underscored the scheme's broader significance: "The Greater Dublin Drainage Project is essential national infrastructure that will help unlock housing delivery and support sustainable economic growth across the Greater Dublin Area for decades to come. As population growth continues, investment in wastewater is critical to protecting public health, safeguarding the environment, and ensuring the region can continue to develop sustainably."
The GDD scheme comprises a regional wastewater treatment facility at Clonshaugh, an orbital sewer network, a pumping station, and a marine outfall to the Irish Sea. Beyond expanding capacity, it will relieve pressure on the existing Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant and support Ireland's compliance with national and EU environmental standards. The project is being progressed alongside Ireland's largest-ever water supply scheme, with both programmes together representing a combined investment of over €7 billion in Irish water infrastructure. Contractor procurement for both projects was launched earlier this year through parallel pre-qualification processes designed to accelerate delivery.
