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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Midlands water supply project

Summary

Deputy Mattie McGrath objected to the midlands-to-Dublin water transfer proposal, warning about effects on Lough Derg and Ardnacrusha. The Taoiseach said he would check the issue and the Deputy asked whether the Government would stop the project.

I have been supplied with a lovely picture of the Taoiseach, the Ministers, Deputies Eamon Ryan, Foley and Coveney, and, I think, the CEO of Irish Water standing at Ardnacrusha. It is lovely and picturesque.

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Is the Deputy going to frame it?

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I will if I get the right answer. I could use it as a dartboard too, you know. I refer to the midlands region water supply and a project to pump 320 million gallons of water a day to Dublin before fixing the pipes here. The children’s hospital is already a disaster. It is a hole in the ground, and a runaway train as regards costs. Last year, Ardnacrusha did not have enough water to produce electricity for the months of August and September. Did anyone in government think to ask the CEO of Irish Water whether what is proposed will have an impact? If we take that much water out of Lough Derg, there will not be enough to allow the ESB to generate power for days or maybe months. This will have a huge impact; not to mention the impact of putting in place a pipeline to Dublin. It is a mad, daft and silly project. Will the Government derail it before it destroys Ardnacrusha? The only purpose of the project is to put water into leaky pipes in Dublin? Fix the pipes. Leave us alone in Tipperary. Stop this madness.

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Leo Varadkar The Taoiseach Fine Gael

I am not quite sure if that was a question. I think it was the CEO of ESB not Irish Water. I cannot see the photograph from here so I may be wrong.

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I will pass it over.

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Leo Varadkar The Taoiseach Fine Gael

I will check up on that issue for sure.

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Is the Government going to stop the project?

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