Offaly people urged to contribute to consultation process for Uisce Éireann Water Supply Project

INDEPENDENT TD Carol Nolan has strongly encouraged all residents of County Offaly, including farmers and landowners, to contribute to the non-statutory consultation launched by Uisce Éireann regarding the Water Supply Project Eastern and Midlands Region. The Project proposes to abstract water from the Parteen Basin, upstream of Parteen Weir on the Lower River Shannon.

Uisce Éireann have described the proposals as a once in a generation project and the first major “new source” water infrastructure in the region in the last 60 years.

Uisce Éireann have informed Deputy Nolan that public consultation information events in Offaly will take place in the Tullamore Court Hotel, Tullamore on January 22nd and in the County Arms, Birr on January 23rd, from 4-8pm.

The water utility says the consultations will provide stakeholders with an opportunity to give feedback on the proposed Project, in advance of Uisce Éireann’s submission of the planning application to An Bord Pleanála.

The Independent TD has, however, voiced a number of significant concerns around the necessity, viability and cost of the project.

“We know that this plan from Uisce Éireann has been the subject of major concerns and indeed outright alarm by farmers and landowners since 2018 and that is why it is absolutely critical that they engage with this process,” said Deputy Nolan.

“I know from my own discussions on this matter that there are major concerns the project may involve compulsory purchase orders of farmland should Uisce Éireann deem that necessary. We need Uisce Éireann to meet those concerns head on and to provide guarantees that this will not happen.

“I also have huge concerns around the proposed cost, which was estimated, prior to construction inflation increases, at well over €1.2 billion a number of years ago. My concerns here is based on the clear evidence that the state and its statutory bodies have an almost unique capacity to make a hames of key infrastructure projects alongside an apparent inability to do anything without massively ballooning the cost to the taxpayer.,” she said.

“I also want clear answers that concerns raised by the Kennedy Analysis, that found the project will be delivering water to Dublin water pipes that have a 57% leakage rate, have been addressed,” concluded Deputy Nolan.

Uisce Éireann say it is proposed that the water from the pipeline will be treated near Birdhill, Co. Tipperary and treated water will then be piped 170km through counties Tipperary, Offaly and Kildare to a termination point reservoir at Peamount in County Dublin, connecting into the Greater Dublin Area water distribution network.

The Consultation will run from January 7^th until March 4^th 2025.