North Tipp Councillors lodge strong objection to Lough Derg Pipe

THE nine Councillors in Nenagh Municipal District have lodged a strong objection with Uisce Éireann to the proposed Lough Derg Pipe.
Their objection was submitted to the project, which is officially referred to as “the Non-Statutory Public Water Supply Project Eastern and Midlands Region,” on Monday March 3rd.
The Councillors begin their submission by stating that, “We strongly oppose the proposed water supply project, which plans to divert water from the Shannon to Dublin at an estimated cost of up to €10 billion.”
They said the project is an unsustainable misuse of taxpayer's money, “particularly when the Mid-West region – serving 40% of the country's population – desperately needs investment in its own water and wastewater infrastructure.”
The Councillors point out that the lack of adequate infrastructure in the Nenagh MD area is stifling development in North Tipperary particularly in towns such as Nenagh, Cloughjordan, Silvermines, Ballycommon, and Portroe, where wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are already at or over capacity.
“Additionally, outdated infrastructure worsens poor water quality and pollution. Especially in the Nenagh River. Instead of prioritising a costly and environmentally damaging pipeline (when Ireland is facing billions of Euros of EU fines due to poor river quality) immediate investment should be directed toward improving regional water services.”
The Councillors say that the argument that Dublin faces a water shortage is fundamentally flawed, and the real issue lies in Dublin's water management system, not a lack of supply. “Evidence from the last five years (March 2019-January 2024),” they point out, “shows that Dublin's water crises were caused by: Burst water pipes (8 incidents); Water Treatment plant failures (5). A new 170km pipeline from the Shannon will not address these issues. Dublin's water mains are at crisis point and urgently need replacing. Instead of wasting €10 billion on an unnecessary pipeline, a large-scale pipe replacement programme – covering at least 2% of Dublin's network - would be a far more effective solution.”
They add that Uisce Éireann's demand projections are “outdated and unreliable,” and The Kennedy report has consistently raised “valid concerns” about leakage rates and demand estimates, and its analysis “has yet to be proven wrong.” They say the original water demand forecasts were based on pre-Covid population trends; and with the rise of hybrid working, Dublin's long term water needs have changed. “Companies such as Microsoft have reported that 30% of their workforce now works remotely, significantly reducing daily water demand in office spaces. Furthermore, Uisce Éireann's own water capacity reports show that no part of Dublin is expected to face water shortages up to 2030. An effectively managed mains replacement programme would eliminate any justification for the Shannon Pipeline.”
The submission says the proposed water abstraction site is within a Natura 2000 area, protected under two EU directives. “The designation confirms that the site is one of the most ecologically sensitive locations in Ireland. Allowing water abstraction on this scale would set a dangerous precedent and contradict national and EU environmental protections. Uisce Éireann's claim that only 2% of the current ESB controlled flow would be diverted is misleading. The ESB itself has struggled with low water levels, leading to a 14-day shutdown in electricity generation in August 2021 due to insufficient water. If the ESB cannot maintain stable water levels for energy production, there is no excess capacity for a project of this magnitude.”
The Councillors believe that the Pipe project also threatens to further imbalance regional development by diverting a critical natural resource away from the Mid-West. "Rather than investing in much needed upgrades to local WWTPs and drinking water systems, the government is prioritising a pipeline that offers no benefit to the Mid-West region. We call on Tipperary, Limerick and Clare County Councils to conduct an independent regional water needs analysis before Uisce Éireann submits an application to An Bord Pleanála.”
The nine Councillors are calling for an independent review of Dublin's “actual water needs” and the feasibility of alternative solutions. They also want a Development Contribution Levy (Class 18) or an abstraction levy to ensure that, if the project goes ahead “against all reasonable objections,” Tipperary County Council benefits financially and controls the amount of water going out of the region. “This levy should mandate a metre at the abstraction point, allowing local authorities to monitor water use and direct funds towards regional infrastructure improvements in Tipperary.”
Concluding their submission, the Councillors said they “adamantly oppose the Shannon Pipeline (Eastern and Midlands Water supply project) due to its flawed justification, environmental risks, massive waste of taxpayers' money, and negative regional impact. There are better, more sustainable alternatives, such as upgrading Dublin's water infrastructure, that would provide long term solutions. We urge you to prioritise a fair and efficient use of Ireland's water resources.”
The submission was signed by Cllrs Séamus Morris, Fiona Bonfield (Cathaoirleach), Phyll Bugler, John Carroll, Joe Hannigan, John Paul O'Meara, Pamela Quirke O'Meara, Louise Morgan Walsh, and Michael O'Meara.