THE BUILDING of a €540 million eco water park and reservoir in Co Offaly to store Shannon water for east coast users, would be necessary to combat climate change, an Oireachtas committee has been told.
Gabriel Darcy, chief executive of Bord na Móna which will build the reservoir and pipeline, said the project, near Portarlington, would exploit the benefits of midland and western counties which will have water when eastern counties become drier.
He told the Oireachtas environment, transport, culture and Gaeltacht committee yesterday that the project had resulted from a Dublin City Council proposal and would be carried out with maximum consultation with all parties involved.
The reservoir would service the needs of 10 local authorities in the east and was being proposed for the good of the “nation and the midlands”. It would help secure industrial development as industry needed water.
He also said Bord na Móna was in discussion with consultants appointed by the Minister for the Environment examining the establishment of a national water board to run the nation’s water supply.
Timmy Dooley (FF) said he was opposed to the development as it would endanger the eco-systems and tourism potential of the Shannon.
Many TDs and Senators expressed concern at the possible environmental damage the project would cause to the Shannon, but were given assurances it would be protected in any project put forward. Assurances were also given that no work would be carried out without full environmental impact studies and that An Bord Pleanála would have the final say in these issues.
Bord na Móna engineer Colm Ó Grogáin said the Shannon was now flooded eight out of the 12 months of the year and the removal of water from Lough Derg would do little to alleviate flooding there.
Mr Darcy said a water park and reservoir to supply 350 million litres to the east coast would create 1,000 construction jobs. There would be 100-150 tourism related jobs arising from fishing, boating and other leisure pursuits.
Members of the committee will view the site of the proposed development later today.