Wastewater reform could see more housing projects being delivered in Carlow

Reforms to wastewater rules will see private developers allowed to install wastewater infrastructure in areas where capacity is blocking houses being built in Carlow.

Uisce Éireann will then take over the systems and maintain them as long as they meet the required standards. 

Councillor Daniel Pender has welcomed the announcement made by Government. 

"Across County Carlow, many smaller towns and villages have seen housing projects stall because of the lack of wastewater treatment capacity. Allowing developers to provide infrastructure that can later be transferred to Uisce Éireann is a practical, common-sense approach that will help unlock development," he said. 

He noted that the change could make a real difference in several growing rural areas.

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"Villages such as Ballinabranna have had their expansion capped in the midst of a housing crisis by limited wastewater capacity. This reform offers a way to enable well-planned housing while maintaining high environmental standards. Local families have been waiting far too long for progress. I have been raising this issue repeatedly since I was elected," Cllr Pender added.

However, he cautioned that the pace of water and wastewater upgrades in parts of the county has been "glacial."

"Communities in Carlow have shown enormous patience but the slow rollout of essential water infrastructure has held us back for too long. While this announcement is a step in the right direction, it now needs to translate into delivery on the ground. We need to see timelines, investment, and real progress," he said. 

"The key now is to ensure this new framework is implemented quickly, transparently, and to the highest standards. I’ll be engaging with Uisce Éireann, the Department of Housing, and Carlow County Council to ensure communities across the county — not just in larger towns but in our rural villages too — benefit fully from these reforms," Cllr Pender concluded.