FAQs

An Bord Pleanála (the Board) is holding a statutory consultation on the Greater Dublin Drainage project (the GDD Project). The consultation period will run from Tuesday 7 May 2024 up to 5:30pm on Friday 7 June, inclusive.

Uisce Éireann submitted further information to the Board in October 2023 (the Further Information) in relation to the planning application for the GDD Project, as remitted to the Board for reconsideration (the Remittal Application). This Further Information addresses changes that have occurred in the Environmental, Policy and Legislative context since the original planning application for the GDD Project was made in 2018.

The Board is now inviting submissions or observations on the Further Information. These submissions or observations may be made in writing to An Bord Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1 (see details below).

An Bord Pleanala's case reference for the Remittal Application is PA06F.312131.

Following closure of the consultation period, the Board will consider the Further Information submitted, as well as any submissions or observations received, to make a decision on the Remittal Application. The Board may give approval to the Remittal Application with or without conditions, or it may refuse the application.

'Further Information' is when additional information in relation to a planning application is requested by a Planning Authority, in this case An Bord Pleanála. The Further Information is required by the Planning Authority to enable it to make an informed decision on the application.

Further Information has been submitted to An Bord Pleanála in relation to the Greater Dublin Drainage planning application, as remitted toAn Bord Pleanála due to the time that has passed since the original planning application was submitted in 2018.

As directed by Bord Pleanála, in preparing the Further Information, Uisce Éireann and its technical advisors have considered the extent to which each of the technical chapters of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and Natura Impact Statement (NIS) are required to be updated, having particular regard to:

• Changes to the baseline environment;
• The requirement for updated surveys; and
• Changes to the law, policy, and industry standards and guidance.

Legislation makes provision for public participation in relation to Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID). As the GDD Project comprises SID, An Bord Pleanála is required to hold a statutory public consultation to allow the public to make submissions or observations on the planning application.

The Board held a period of statutory public consultation on the original planning application in 2018. Uisce Éireann has responded to the submissions and observations received by An Bord Pleanála during this statutory consultation in a detailed report. The Response to Submissions Report is available to view and download at www.gddapplication.ie.

As the Further Information has been submitted by Uisce Éireann, the Board is now holding a further statutory public consultation in relation to the Further Information. The consultation period will run from 7 May 2024 to 5:30pm on 7 June 2024 (inclusive) and is an opportunity for the public to make any submissions or observations on the Further Information.

The planning application and Further Information, along with other material on the GDD Project, may be viewed or downloaded from greaterdublindrainage@water.ie.

Hard copies of the planning application and Further Information are available for inspection free of charge during public opening hours at the following locations:

• An Bord Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Street, Rotunda, Dublin 1
• Fingal County Council, Planning Counter, County Hall, Main Street, Swords, Co. Dublin
• Fingal County Council, Planning Counter, Grove Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15
• Dublin City Council, Planning Counter, Ground Floor, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8

Copies of the Further Information or extracts may be purchased on payment of a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of printing from: greaterdublindrainage@water.ie.

An Bord Pleanála is inviting submissions or observations on the Further Information submitted in relation to the Remittal Application.

Any submissions or observations on the Further Information may be made in writing to An Bord Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Street, Rotunda, Dublin 1 as detailed below. Submissions or observations must be received by the Board by 5:30pm on Friday, 7 June 2024 and must include:

• The name of person making the observation, the name of the person acting on his / her behalf, if any, and the address to which any correspondence relating to the application should be sent.
• The subject matter of the submission or observation.
• The reasons, considerations and arguments on which the submission or observation is based. 

Submissions or observations requiring a fee:

Submissions or observations to the Board must be accompanied by a €50 fee. These submissions or observations may be submitted by hand or by post to An Bord Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, D01 V902, or through the portal on the Board's website: https://www.pleanala.ie/en-ie/observation-on-a-planning-appeal-online.

Submissions or observations not requiring a fee:

No fee is required for certain prescribed bodies or for submitters who have previously made an observation on the GDD project to the Board. These submissions or observations can be submitted by hand or by post to An Bord Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, D01 V902, or by email to laps@pleanala.ie.

On 20 June 2018, Uisce Éireann submitted a planning application to An Bord Pleanála for the GDD Project, complete with an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and Natura Impact Statement (NIS). The application was made under planning legislation that relates to Strategic Infrastructure Develoments. A Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) was also submitted. An Bord Pleanála then held statutory public consultation including an oral hearing.

On 13 November 2019, An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission and confirmed the CPO for the GDD Project.

This planning permission was quashed following the issue of legal proceedings and a Court hearing. The planning application was subsequently remitted back to An Bord Pleanála by Order of the High Court on 16 July 2021 for a fresh decision.

An Bord Pleanála subsequently wrote to Uisce Éireann in August 2022 providing Uisce Éireann the opportunity to update, where appropriate, the EIAR and NIS and any other information submitted.

In October 2023, Uisce Éireann submitted the Further Information in response to that correspondence.  As directed by An Bord Pleanála, in the preparation of the Further Information, Uisce Éireann and its technical advisors have considered the extent to which each of the technical chapters of the EIAR and the NIS are required to be updated, having particular regard to:

• Changes to the baseline environment;
• The requirement for updated surveys; and
• Changes to the law, policy, and industry standards and guidance in the intervening period.

An Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) is an analysis of the likely effects that a proposed development may have on the environment. This includes any likely effects on people, flora, fauna, soil, water, air, landscape and cultural heritage. The EIAR also includes a non-technical summary.

The EIAR is prepared by the project developer, Uisce Éireann in this case, to inform the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process and is submitted to the planning authority for evaluation along with the planning application documents.

Changes to the baseline environment and the requirement for updated surveys have been considered in the Further Information submitted to the Board to ensure the EIAR is up-to-date, accurate and robust.

Amendments to the original EIAR submitted in 2018 can be viewed alongside the Further Information submitted here.

The Environmental Impact Assessment Report can be viewed at www.gddapplication.ie .The planning, statutory and environmental documents are available to view and download from this website.

Amendments to the original EIAR are contained within the Further Information, which is available for inspection free of charge during the statutory consultation period at the following locations:

• An Bord Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Street, Rotunda, Dublin 1
• Fingal County Council, Planning Counter, County Hall, Main Street, Swords, Co. Dublin
• Fingal County Council, Planning Counter, Grove Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15
• Dublin City Council, Planning Counter, Ground Floor, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8

Copies of the Further Information or extracts may be purchased on payment of a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of printing from: greaterdublindrainage@water.ie.

Uisce Éireann has reviewed and considered more than 34,500 submissions which have been made to the GDD project team since 2011.

As part of the planning documentation, Uisce Éireann published the GDD Public and Stakeholder Participation Report which documents the previous consultations and engagement and how public feedback has informed the development of the GDD project.

Uisce Éireann wishes to thank the individuals and organisations that have engaged with the GDD project to date. The GDD Public and Stakeholder Participation Report is available to view with the planning documentation and online at www.gddapplication.ie

A CPO is a legal function that allows certain statutory bodies which need to take land or property to do so without the consent of the owner. The compulsory acquisition of land takes place in Ireland to allow a public infrastructure project to go ahead for the common good.

Uisce Éireann has made a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) in respect of the land, permanent wayleaves, temporary working areas and rights of way required to facilitate the Greater Dublin Drainage project.

On 13 November 2019, An Bord Pleanála granted the Compulsory Purchase Order for the GDD project. Please click here to view the Compulsory Purchase Order decision. Notices to Treat were issued to all affected landowners in September 2021.

Once all development consents are approved, construction of the GDD wastewater treatment plant and associated orbital sewer, marine outfall and pumping station is estimated to take three years.

Uisce Éireann is working to upgrade the Ringsend wastewater treatment plant. Together, these projects are needed to provide adequate wastewater treatment to serve the greater Dublin area to 2050. GDD will provide the additional treatment capacity required.

Uisce Éireann is working to ensure that the wastewater generated every day in our homes, schools and workplaces continues to receive the proper treatment - supporting the sustainable growth of our communities and protecting our environment.

Yes. A community benefit scheme for the Greater Dublin Drainage project is proposed in order to leverage and maximise benefits for local communities in proximity to the proposed infrastructure. The scheme will deliver benefits under three main themes: Employment, Education and Environment.

The GDD Community Benefits Scheme forms part of the planning documentation at www.gddapplication.ie