Minister Eoghan Murphy asks the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities to carry out review of the Eastern and Midlands Water Supply Project

The Water Services Act 2013 requires the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, in conjunction with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, to provide consent for all commitments for capital expenditure above a certain threshold.

Given the scale and importance of the Eastern and Midlands Water Supply Project and recognising the CRU’s statutory role as independent economic regulator of Irish Water, including its role of reviewing Irish Water’s capital investment plans, the Minister has today (18th October) requested the CRU to undertake the review to support the Minister’s Decision in relation to the capital consent that will be required in the event that planning approval is obtained for the project. The request to the CRU is consistent with the CRU’s role under Section 40 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 to advise the Minister on the development and delivery of water services.

The Eastern and Midlands Water Supply Project has been in development since the mid -1990s, originally under Dublin City Council, and under Irish Water management since January 2014. It is the first comprehensive upgrade of Ireland’s water infrastructure in over 60 years.

The Water Supply Project - Eastern and Midlands Region (the Water Supply Project, WSP) is Irish Water’s preferred option for the delivery of a secure, sustainable supply of water for region out to 2050.