THE move to
provide householders and businesses across the capital with water from the
River Shannon has moved a step closer after Dublin City Council published plans
for the project.
The city council
has published the Adopted Plan and Environmental Statement on the proposed
Water Supply Project.
This recommends
the abstraction of raw water from Lough Derg (River Shannon) with storage in a
proposed new eco-park at the Bord na Mona owned Garryhinch cut-away Bog near
Portarlington, County Laois.
The water will
be treated at Garryhinch to drinking water standards and pumped to over one
million people in businesses and homes in the Midlands and Dublin Region.
The plan is
currently on view on Dublin City Council’s website, www.dublincity.ie and at
the planning counters of the four Dublin local authorities. This facility will
be available until November 1.
An application
was made to An Bord Pleanala in August for consultations under the Strategic
Infrastructure Act.
Over the next
two years an Environmental Impact Assessment and planning application will be
prepared for submission to the board with ample opportunity for public
involvement.
Tom Leahy, from
Dublin City Council, is encouraging people to view the plan and the
environmental statement.
“This plan is
the best one for Ireland to provide a sustainable future water supply for the
10 counties along the route, as well as to the greater Dublin area where 40 per
cent of our population lives,
? said Mr Leahy.
Gina Quinn,
chief executive of Dublin Chamber of Commerce, said:
“Dublin Chamber welcomes
the publication of the Adopted Plan and Environmental Statement on the proposed
project which is further evidence that it is viable and sustainable for all of
Ireland.
?