Uisce Éireann 'committed' to Laois

Several Laois infrastructure projects are being progressed to address limitations and support future growth in Laois, isists Uisce Éireann.

The water utility made that claim in response to a call from Laois indpendent TD Brian Stanley. Demanding for more investment, the Portlaoise-based TD told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that supply has not been expanded in the years since the utility was set up by the Government in 2013. 

However, the State-owned said several towns in Laois are already benefitting from "targeted investment" in water services.

It said the Ballyroan Wastewater Treatment Plant is undergoing a significant upgrade, increasing capacity from a population equivalent (PE) of 600 to 900. This project includes new stormwater and sludge tanks, treatment system upgrades, and SCADA integration, and is expected to be completed by Autumn 2026. 

It said the Ballinakill Wastewater Treatment Plant is on a draft priority list for upgrade.

Uisce Éireann added that the Portlaoise Wastewater Treatment Plant is in for planning permission, and the planned investment will support 10-25-year growth projections, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and enabling sustainable development.

The company added that nine watermains rehabilitation works have been completed in Mountrath, Portarlington, Portlaoise, Abbeyleix, Clonaslee, The Swan, Emo, Stradbally, and Durrow recently. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

Brian Stanley called on Uisce Éireann to spend more on Laois.

It also said disinfection upgrades, leak detection, and find and fix programmes are ongoing across multiple sites across the county. It said these include the prioritised town centre upgrade that's almost complete in Mountmellick. It listed other works across Portarlington, Abbeyleix, and Castletown to improve water quality and "operational efficiency".

In terms of strategic planning, Uisce Éireann said Laois is part of Study Area 6 in the Eastern and Midlands Regional Water Resources Plan, which outlines preferred options for improving supply reliability and resilience.

These include the development of new groundwater sources that involve rationalisation and interconnection of existing water resource zones (WRZs) in Durrow, Abbeyleix, Ballinakill, Ballyroan, and Portlaoise.

"We recognise that infrastructure upgrades are essential to support housing and economic development. Uisce Éireann remains committed to delivering the necessary improvements and will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure that Laois communities are supported through sustainable investment.

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"Uisce Éireann remains committed to delivering safe, climate-resilient, and future-proofed water services that support Ireland’s social, environmental, and economic goals," said the statement.

The company also welcomed the Government commitment to water infrastructure investment through the revised National Development Plan (NDP). Uisce Éireann said this prioritisation of water infrastructure reflects the critical role that resilient water services play in enabling sustainable growth, supporting housing delivery and protecting the environment across Ireland.