I want to address the proposed water supply pipeline from the River Shannon to Dublin. In what would be the largest water project in the history of the State, more than 300 million litres of water a day will be taken from the River Shannon and transported through approximately 170 km of pipeline to supply Dublin at an estimated cost of €5 billion. Although the Government has described the work to be carried out as an imperative, there are genuine concerns about this project across communities in north Tipperary and the midlands. It will have an impact on one of Ireland's most treasured natural wonders. Local anglers have highlighted the potential environmental impact of the project, especially on migratory fish including trout and salmon. Businesses along the River Shannon and Lough Derg that rely on the tourism industry are worried about what this could mean for their livelihoods. I am speaking about accommodation providers, local pubs, cafés and small shops. Many of them are small family-run businesses whose enterprises are sustained by the river and the tourism visitors it attracts. Landowners are also raising questions about what the project would mean for them in terms of the construction involved and how this may cause significant disruption. We are all aware of the need for water infrastructure, and particularly in our most populated areas, but it cannot come at the expense of one community's way of life to sustain another. Having been kept updated on the project's development over the years, I understand why the people impacted need certainty that all alternatives have been truly explored before we risk damaging this critical waterway. We should look, for instance, at improving storage capacity closer to where demand exists and at upgrading the infrastructure already available. Will the Taoiseach outline the assessments carried out regarding the impact of the proposed water supply project on local communities along the Shannon? Is Government satisfied with Uisce Éireann's analysis and assessment of the project? Can the Taoiseach explain why the Government believes extracting water from the Shannon is the necessary solution, rather than prioritising greater water storage and resilience measures closer to where demand exists? We are aware the Dublin network is leaking badly. Will there be a large-scale replacement programme to cover Dublin's network or will we be piping fresh new water into a system that is already leaking? We have a poor record in delivering large-scale public projects on time and within budget. Does the Taoiseach have reason to believe this ambitious project will be different from past failures? Does Uisce Éireann have the capability to manage a project of this magnitude?

Sentiment score: 0.07

I agree Uisce Éireann needs to communicate the information it has and it needs to have the public's trust. It is important that happens. I was struck by the fact that in recent months we have seen unprecedented rainfall yet very little of that rainwater is captured or stored by homeowners or businesses. We should be doing far more to prioritise rainwater harvesting in our communities. Simple and inexpensive systems are available that could be installed to capture rainwater for non-drinking purposes, such as gardening or cleaning. As well as turning to these big projects that involve extracting water from one region to supply another, we should look at how best we can capture and manage rainfall. We get plenty of it in Ireland and it is guaranteed every year. How can we capture, harvest and reuse it?

Sentiment score: 0.17