19 Iúil 2011, 18:12
19th July 2011 Members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht will visit the proposed locations for the €560 million eco water park and reservoir on the site of a 500 acre bog at Garryhinch Co Offaly tomorrow (20th).
The Committee will be given a tour and a full briefing from Bord na Móna regarding the plans. Committee members will also ask questions regarding the viability and environmental sustainability of the project.
MEDIA ARE INVITED TO ATTEND
Attending Committee members will be available for interview.
Time: 14:45-15:15
Venue: Garryhinch, Laois-Offaly border (Site of proposed water storage reservoir)
Time: 16:00-15:00
Venue: Lough Boora Parklands, Co. Offaly (Site of amenity lakes and parkland already developed by Bord na Móna)
Should you wish to attend please contact in advance; Daniel English, Oireachtas Communications Unit, Tel 087 6949926
About the Project
Under the plans, put forward by Dublin City Council, the reservoir would supply 350 million litres of water a day to the Dublin region and serve the capital’s drinking water needs for 70 years. The project would also create a water based eco-park with fishing, boating, cycling water and leisure sports in the midlands. It is envisaged that 1,000 construction jobs would be created alongside a number of long term tourism and recreation jobs in the midlands.
In preparation for the visit, the Committee met with Bord na Móna Chief Executive, Gabriel Darcy today. Bord na Móna have expressed their commitment to support the project.
ENDS
Daniel English
Oireachtas Communications Office
01 618 4484
087 6949926
Committee Membership
Deputies:
Ciarán Lynch, Labour Party (Chairman)
Noel Coonan, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
James Bannon, Fine Gael
Paudie Coffey, Fine Gael
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, Fine Gael
Tony McLoughlin, Fine Gael
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Kevin Humphreys, Labour Party
Gerald Nash, Labour Party
Seán Kenny, Labour Party
Robert Troy, Fianna Fáil
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Niall Collins, Fianna Fáil
Sandra McLellan, Sinn Féin
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Brian Stanley, Sinn Féin
Clare Daly, Socialist Party
Catherine Murphy, Independent
Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Independent
Senators:
Cáit Keane, Fine Gael
Catherine Noone, Fine Gael
Labhrás Ó’Murchú, Fianna Fáil
Ned O’Sullivan, Fianna Fáil
Eamon Coghlan, Independent