Standard Connection Charges Refund

Temporary Time-Limited Refund in respect of Standard Connection Charges for Residential Development

As per Circular PL 02/2024, issued on 30th April 2024, the Government has approved a new package of housing support measures to incentivise the commencement of housing developments and help reduce housing construction costs, including the introduction of temporary time-limited arrangements for the refund of Uisce Éireann (UÉ) Standard Connection Charges.

This temporary refund Scheme applies to permitted residential developments that

• Commence on site between 25 April 2023 (the date of the Government Decision approving the measure) and 30 September 2024; and
• Are completed not later than 31 December 2026.
• Applications to UÉ for refunds can only be accepted up to 31 December 2024

The Scheme does not apply to applicable Quotable Charges and/or surety requirements specified in connection agreements.

Single Domestic customers who have submitted a connection application to Uisce Éireann and meet the scheme criteria may apply for a waiver for their standard connection charges only. Where a quotable charge forms part of the connection offer this must be paid up front to allow processing of the waiver and delivery of the connection(s) by Uisce Éireann to progress. Refer to Uisce Éireann – Single Domestic Waiver Scheme Criteria below for further detail.

Multi Unit Residential Developments and Single Domestic Customers

Customers seeking a refund for Water and/or Wastewater Standard Connection Charges as part of this Scheme will be required to have submitted a Connection Application and a Refund Application to Uisce Éireann by 31 December 2024.

There is no longer a requirement to have an executed Connection Agreement in place by 31 December 2024 to apply for a Refund. If you have made a Connection Application to Uisce Éireann but have not yet received a Connection Offer and meet the scheme criteria, you are advised to apply for a Refund by the 31 December 2024.

In such cases the Refund Application will be recorded and put on hold. If a connection is feasible and Uisce Éireann is in a position to issue a Connection Offer, for your development, the Refund Application will be assessed once the Connection Agreement has been executed.

To execute a Connection Agreement with UÉ all acceptance criteria must be met, including:

• Payment of the Connection Charge;
• Return of Letter of Acceptance;
• Payment of any required surety/security; and
• Any other conditions as set out within the Connection Offer letter.

Customers seeking a Connection Refund from UÉ shall be required to submit the following via email to connectionrefundscheme@water.ie;

1. Connection Refund Scheme Application Form along with a Site Layout drawing (PDF format) indicating the residential unit(s) associated with this Refund Application.

2. A signed copy of the UÉ Letter of Undertaking for Connection Refund Scheme committing to repay any monies refunded by UÉ if the Scheme criteria are not met (Section B of the Refund Application form).

3. Submit a signed and stamped Local Authority Letter of Approval as part of the refund application in accordance with the Temporary Time-Limited Waiver in respect of Development Contributions and as set out in Circular PL08/2023 (Appendix 6). The Local Authority Letter of Approval shall be for the same development details as contained within the Refund Application and will determine the level of refund to be processed by UÉ.

4. Submit a valid Commencement Notice for the development as part of the refund application, together with a printout of your Commencement Notice from the Building Control Management System.

5. For housing developments that are exempt under the Development Contribution Waiver Scheme, e.g., social housing, you will be required to submit appropriate documentation as part of the refund application from the relevant Local Authority Planning and or Housing Department detailing the number of houses that will be built under the terms of the applicable scheme to enable you to submit a Refund Application to UÉ. Any documentation provided should relate to the Development specified in the Refund Application.

Single Domestic Customers may seek a waiver for Water and/or Wastewater Standard Connection Charges as part of this Scheme where they meet the government scheme criteria as per Circular PL 02/2024. Where a waiver is sought the applicant will be required to have submitted a Connection Application and Waiver Application to UÉ by 31 December 2024.

There is no longer a requirement to have an executed Connection Agreement in place by 31 December 2024 to apply for a Waiver. If you have made a Connection Application to Uisce Éireann but have not yet received a Connection Offer and meet the scheme criteria, you are advised to apply for a Waiver by the 31 December 2024.

In such cases the Waiver Application will be recorded and put on hold. If a connection is feasible and Uisce Éireann is in a position to issue a Connection Offer, for your development, the Waiver Application will be assessed once the Connection Agreement has been executed.

To execute a Connection Agreement with UÉ all acceptance criteria must be met, including:

• Payment of any Quotable Connection Charges (if applicable and as set out within Appendix 4 of the Connection Offer);
• Return of Letter of Acceptance; and
• Any other conditions as set out within the Connection Offer letter.

Customers seeking a Waiver from UÉ shall be required to submit the following via email to connectionrefundscheme@water.ie;

1. Single Domestic Dwelling Waiver Application Form, along with a Site Layout drawing (PDF format) indicating the residential unit(s) associated with this Waiver Application.
2. A signed copy of the UÉ Letter of Undertaking for Connection Refund Scheme committing to repay any monies waived by UÉ if the Scheme criteria are not met (Section B of the Waiver Application form).
3. Submit a signed and stamped Local Authority Letter of Approval as part of the waiver application in accordance with the Temporary Time-Limited Waiver in respect of Development Contributions and as set out in Circular PL08/2023 (Appendix 6). The Local Authority Letter of Approval shall be for the same development details as contained within the Waiver Application and will allow the waiver to be processed by UÉ and connection(s) be delivered.

Notes:

a. Refund/Waiver Applications and queries to be submitted to connectionrefundscheme@water.ie. 
b. Connection Applications and queries relating to existing connection applications to be submitted to newconnections@water.ie. 
c. All new Connections are subject to Uisce Éireann’s Connection Charging Policy and at all times the issue of a connection offer is a matter for the discretion of Uisce Éireann.
d. An executed Connection Agreement is required before commencing on site. Any development that has commenced on site, in advance of an executed Connection Agreement, has commenced at the developers own risk. Uisce Éireann is not in a position to guarantee that such developments can be connected - a full review of the development details, as part of the Connection Application process, is required to determine if a connection can be facilitated.
e. Uisce Éireann is not in a position to guarantee that a refund can be made until the full Connection Application and Refund Application assessment has been completed.
f. It is expected that all connection offers should be executed by 30 September 2025 in order to be included in the scheme, and as such customers/developers must engage proactively with Uisce Éireann throughout the connection application process.
g. Illegal Connections: Only Uisce Éireann or our authorised agents are permitted to make the Connection to the water and wastewater networks. No other entity is permitted to complete the Connection works to the Uisce Éireann networks. In instances where a Connection has been made, either directly or indirectly, to the network without our consent, this constitutes an illegal Connection under the Water Services Act of 2007. Where Uisce Éireann becomes aware of illegal connections to the water and wastewater networks, it maintains the right to prosecute or take appropriate action. In all circumstances, the Connection is to be completed by Uisce Éireann or our authorised agents and Uisce Éireann reserves the right to disconnect connections completed by another entity. Should Uisce Éireann incur any additional costs in regularising the Connection, these costs will be charged to the relevant party. Without prejudice to this regularisation process, Uisce Éireann expressly reserves all of its rights and entitlements in respect of such illegal Connections.