20 Iúil 2011, 21:06
The plans for construction of a reservoir and eco park in Garyhinch Bog Co Offaly have potential but a great deal of consultation and analysis would need to be done before the project can advance; the Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht said today following a visit to the proposed locations.
20th July 2011
Committee members visited the possible sites earlier today and received a thorough briefing from Bord na Mona officials on the project. Committee members in attendance were; Ciaran Lynch TD, Committee Chairman, Kevin Humphries TD, Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy TD, James Bannon TD and Brian Stanley TD.
Committee Chairman, Ciaran Lynch TD said;
“Today’s fact- finding trip was extremely informative. Yesterday, the CEO of Bord na Mona, who are supporting the project, attended the Committee to answer questions on the development. However, it was extremely useful to visit the site in order to get a first hand view of exactly what the proposal will entail.
While there is no doubt that there is a pending problem with water supply in the greater Dublin area, any use of water from the Shannon region in order to address this problem could only be done if environmental and sustainability considerations are satisfied.
The disruption caused to water supplies during last winter’s cold snap along with the likelihood of shortages during the summer highlight what a priority issue this is. The Committee intends to focus on this matter as part of its work programme and will return to the issue in the near future.”
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.
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
Committee members visited the possible sites earlier today and received a thorough briefing from Bord na Mona officials on the project. Committee members in attendance were; Ciaran Lynch TD, Committee Chairman, Kevin Humphries TD, Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy TD, James Bannon TD and Brian Stanley TD.
Committee Chairman, Ciaran Lynch TD said;
“Today’s fact- finding trip was extremely informative. Yesterday, the CEO of Bord na Mona, who are supporting the project, attended the Committee to answer questions on the development. However, it was extremely useful to visit the site in order to get a first hand view of exactly what the proposal will entail.
While there is no doubt that there is a pending problem with water supply in the greater Dublin area, any use of water from the Shannon region in order to address this problem could only be done if environmental and sustainability considerations are satisfied.
The disruption caused to water supplies during last winter’s cold snap along with the likelihood of shortages during the summer highlight what a priority issue this is. The Committee intends to focus on this matter as part of its work programme and will return to the issue in the near future.”
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.
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