Major water upgrade planned to end Dunboyne supply issues as ‘vulnerable people’ affected
Residents of Dunboyne are set to benefit from a major water main upgrade as the area continues to experience supply interruptions.
According to Uisce Éireann, the existing network built several decades ago has been prone to bursts in certain sections due to aging infrastructure and a growing population.
The new infrastructure, part of the M3 Parkway project, aims to increase capacity, improve network performance, and reduce pressure on the current system. Detailed designs are currently underway, with construction scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2026.
The project forms part of Uisce Éireann’s Growth and Development Programme, which supports both existing and future community developments.
Michael Cunniffe, spokesperson for Uisce Éireann, acknowledged the inconvenience faced by residents.
“We are fully committed to addressing the concerns of Dunboyne residents and ensuring the highest standards of water supply. This is a priority issue for Uisce Éireann and we are working hard to reduce interruptions and provide a safe and secure water supply to the Dunboyne community.
“Uisce Éireann apologises to those who experience interruptions and acknowledges the impact on customers and communities in the area. We are making progress and are committed to finding a solution as quickly as possible.”
The utility body said that expert crews are deployed “immediately” during unplanned outages to restore service as quickly as possible. Short-term measures are also being explored to improve operational efficiency and reduce the impact on residents and businesses while the upgrade progresses.
Meanwhile, Dunboyne councillor Caroline O’Reilly said that “very vulnerable people” have been directly affected and, due to the “seriousness” of the situation, pallets of bottled water have already been delivered to the nursing home on Summerhill Road.
“I know how upsetting and disruptive it is to have little or no water in your home. This is a basic service and people should not be dealing with this,” Cllr O’Reilly said.
“This is an issue I have been focused on for as long as I am an elected member, and I will continue to push for urgent improvements now and for the permanent solution to be delivered as quickly as possible.
“I urge people to continue to get in touch with me so that we can keep the focus firmly on Dunboyne.”
She added that residents who notice leaks in their area or on their own property should report them directly to Uisce Éireann, as this will help improve pressure across the network.