Council welcomes An Bord Pleanála decision on Greater Dublin Drainage Project

Fingal County Council has welcomed the decision of An Bord Pleanála to grant planning permission for the Greater Dublin Drainage Project (GDDP) which is a critical piece of national infrastructure under Project Ireland 2040 and will secure the long term sustainable growth of the Greater Dublin Area.

Fingal County Council played a lead role in the evolution of the project prior to it being transferred to Irish Water. As far back as 2005, as part of the Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study, Fingal County Council recognised the need to improve and protect water quality as part of a regional solution, through a coordinated and integrated approach to the delivery of essential water services.  

At a local level, consecutive Development Plans, including the Fingal Development Plan 2017-23 and Fingal Sludge Management Plan, have also continued to identify the need for solutions to cater for long-term growth, with the GDDP being central to this.

The Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, said: “This strategic infrastructure project will assist Fingal County Council to deliver on its ambitious plans for the future development of the County, not just in terms of local spatial planning policy, but in also supporting consolidation of the metropolitan area, sustainable population growth, economic prosperity and continued confidence for investors in the long term.

“From an environmental perspective it will assist us in delivering on our obligations under a variety of EU Directives. In doing so this will help to improve water quality, safeguard Fingal’s coastal and inland waters and meet necessary environmental standards and compliances.” 

Fingal County Council will now work with Irish Water and other agencies to ensure the timely provision of this project along with all other water supply and drainage infrastructure within the County, in line with the Council’s Settlement Strategy.