Irish Water has published a report summarising feedback from the latest consultation on the Water Supply Project, eastern and midlands region, where the utility asked for views on its identification of the preferred scheme for a new water supply for the region and on the proposed environmental methodology for the Project Environmental Impact Assessment.
The project will deliver a secure, reliable and sustainable long-term water supply that will be critical to support the eastern and midlands region’s social and economic growth from 2025. It will be the first significant comprehensive upgrade to Ireland’s new water source infrastructure in the region in more than 60 years.
Water treatment nearby at Birdhill
The project will involve the abstraction of water from the lower River Shannon at Parteen Basin in Co Tipperary, with water treatment nearby at Birdhill. Treated water would then be piped 170km to a termination point reservoir at Peamount in Co Dublin, connecting into the Greater Dublin network.
Communities in North Tipperary, Offaly, Laois, Westmeath, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow will also benefit from the project with possible future offshoots from the pipe that will enable the development of extra homes and businesses and increase the potential for inward investment.
Apart from the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), the most urgent areas with impending water deficits in the region are the Mullingar supply area of Westmeath and the rapidly expanding area of east Meath bordering the GDA.
50 briefings with stakeholder groups
As part of this latest public consultation, Irish Water held eight public open days along the route of the pipe; had two briefing days for Oireachtas members and five councillor briefings; held more than 50 briefings with stakeholder groups; had six landowner information evenings for the 500 landowners along the route; and sought responses from the public through 36 advertisements in regional and national media, press releases and social media.
More than 1,000 stakeholders participated in the consultation – the fourth on this project. The feedback received and Irish Water’s response have been summarised in the consultation submissions report, which is available on the project website
www.watersupplyproject.ie.
Head of asset management at Irish Water, Sean Laffey, said: “The recently published National Planning Framework confirmed the urgent need for a new long-term water supply source for the Eastern and Midlands Region by the mid-2020s, to provide for projected growth up to 2050 and to ensure that the region has a safe, secure and resilient water supply for the region.
"Public participation and landowner engagement have been an essential part of the Water Supply Project, eastern and midlands region development since the project began. Feedback received during the public consultation open days, landowner evenings and stakeholder meetings, and through our landowner liaison officers, as well as by post, email and over the phone has all been considered and is reflected in the consultation submissions report.
"A wide range of issues were raised by the public including the need for the project; alternative options; planning and construction; environmental issues; and the cost and funding. We would like to sincerely thank everyone who took the time to participate.
"Their engagement and input has helped us develop a long-term strategic investment project that we believe is environmentally sustainable and will bring economic benefits to the whole country.”