Uisce Éireann Launches Procurement for Greater Dublin Drainage and Water Supply Project

Uisce Éireann today announced a major procurement milestone with the launch of the Pre Qualification Questionnaires (PQQ) for both the Greater Dublin Drainage (GDD) project and the Water Supply Project, Eastern and Midlands Region (WSP) respectively. This marks the next major step toward delivery of two of the State’s most critical infrastructure projects.

These two vital projects – which together will represent an investment of over €7 billion in Ireland’s water and wastewater infrastructure – will support economic growth and enable the delivery of essential housing in line with Government targets. Recognising the critical need for these projects, Uisce Éireann is now committed to moving forward at pace to ensure they can be delivered without delay. Today’s announcement reflects strong and sustained interest from both Irish and international firms, signalling confidence in the ambition, scale and readiness of both projects.

Project Progress and Delivery Readiness

The two projects continue to move through key planning and delivery milestones:

• Greater Dublin Drainage (GDD) has secured planning approval. The detailed Business Case has been approved by the Uisce Éireann Board. Preliminary Works will commence as early as year-end, with tenders for main works planned to run in parallel – demonstrating delivery urgency and commitment.
• Water Supply Project (WSP) has submitted its Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) and Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) applications. Procurement activity is progressing in parallel to planning to ensure the project is ready to move to delivery once approvals are secured.

This parallel progression reflects Government policy to reduce delays, shorten delivery timelines, and ensure that major infrastructure projects are ready to transition quickly from approval to construction.

The two independent PQQs now formally invites interested contractors and consortia to demonstrate their capability and experience in delivering complex, largescale infrastructure. Following extensive market engagement UÉ has worked to streamline the PQQs across both projects adopting common approaches where appropriate. The processes are expected to run over the coming months and are designed to secure the strongest possible market response. This approach builds on extensive early engagement with the construction and engineering sector, ensuring market capacity, capability and innovation are aligned with Ireland’s national infrastructure pipeline. It also provides industry with the clarity and certainty needed to plan and mobilise resources and scale infrastructure.

Mike Healy, Strategic Projects Programme Director at Uisce Éireann said, “Both the Greater Dublin Drainage Scheme and the Water Supply Project are critical to supporting the water and wastewater services necessary for housing supply, sustained economic growth, and protecting the environment.

“The launch of both PQQ’s demonstrates that we are ready to move at pace. We have listened to the market, engaged extensively with industry, and structured our approach to provide confidence, clarity and momentum. International experience shows that early market engagement, structured PQQ processes and parallel progression of procurement, design and enabling works significantly reduce delivery risks, control costs, and avoid delays between planning and construction. This ensures projects can proceed immediately once approvals are secured, improving delivery certainty and value for money.”

Notes to Editors:

Greater Dublin Drainage (GDD)

• GDD is a major wastewater infrastructure project comprising a new wastewater treatment plant at Clonshaugh, a new orbital sewer, pumping stations and a marine outfall. Together these elements will provide long-term capacity for sustainable growth in the Greater Dublin Area while protecting water quality and the environment. It will provide long-term capacity for sustainable growth in the Greater Dublin Area while protecting water quality and the environment.
• Preparations for early stage delivery are underway, with preliminary construction works scheduled to begin in 2027 and overall construction completion by 2032.
• A Detailed Business Case and procurement strategy approved by the Uisce Éireann Board was submitted to the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage in December 2025.

Water Supply Project (WSP)

• WSP will provide a resilient, safe and secure water supply with capacity to address the water supply needs of up to 50% of Ireland’s population, supporting housing delivery and economic growth.
• The project includes abstraction from Parteen Basin on the River Shannon, 172 km of pipeline through Tipperary, Offaly, Kildare and South Dublin, and five major infrastructure sites including a new treatment plant at Birdhill and a reservoir at Peamount.
• One of the largest SID and CPO applications in the State was lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP) in December 2025 following extensive public consultation. ACP is currently conducting a seven week statutory public consultation until 25 February 2026.