Housing

Irish Water planning to refund new-connection fees to developers

The move is in an effort to prevent ‘first mover disadvantage’ and encourage housing development

Irish Water: will provide refunds to a developer for part of the cost if other developers subsequently start to use the same infrastructure within five years. Picture: Clive Wasson

Irish Water is to refund developers who pay for water connections at new sites to boost housing development. The move is aimed at eliminating “first mover disadvantage” for developers who have to pay the full cost of new connections to treatment plants.

Irish Water said that this can lead to a “free rider” situation, where other developers in the area can then piggyback on this infrastructure because they do not have to pay for the ...