Councillor claims Limerick TDs need to ’open their eyes’ on Shannon abstraction

GREEN Party councillor Seán Hartigan says the Shannon to Dublin Water Supply Project is "going nowhere but in the bin".

GREEN Party councillor Seán Hartigan believes it is time that Limerick TDs open their eyes and tell the Government that the Shannon to Dublin Water Supply Project is “going nowhere but in the bin”.

Cllr Hartigan considers it inconceivable that, with a hose pipe ban in Limerick and Tipperary since July 24 to continue until September 30, Uisce Éireann could continue with its proposal to abstract water from the Shannon at Birdhill to supply Dublin.

“If there isn’t enough water available from the Shannon to supply neighbouring counties, how can there possibly be enough to supply Dublin?” the City East representative asked.

Cllr Hartigan is calling on Limerick TDs to “wake up and speak up and stop believing the propaganda from Uisce Éireann that this project is vital for the continued expansion of Dublin”.

“To date, I have heard nothing from Limerick TDs on this issue. Those of us who do engage with Uisce Èireann have been repeatedly told that any water taken will be diverted from Ardnacrusha power station. Well guess what, there has been minimal generation at Ardnacrusha this summer with no generation on most days,” Cllr Hartigan claimed.

The Green Party councillor pointed to a study by Met Éireann last year showing that record-breaking summers like this one are going to be frequent events due to climate change.

“This can’t be reversed in the short term but what we can do is protect our water supply and the biodiversity of the Shannon. It’s time for all Limerick TDs to open their eyes and tell the Government the water supply project is going nowhere but in the bin.”

When contacted for comment, Fianna Fáil TD Willie O’Dea told the Limerick Post that he is against the proposal to extract over 300 million litres of water a day from the River Shannon to bolster supply to the east of the country.

“I have been in touch with individuals and groups who are very concerned about this project, which proposes to pump water from the River Shannon to supply Dublin and surrounding areas, and I have assured them of my support,” Deputy O’Dea said.

“I have also made representations to the Government on the matter. I don’t need any advice from the Greens on how to represent my constituents.”

No other Limerick TD responded to Cllr Hartigan’s comments at the time of going to print.

However, Uisce Éireann said that the Water Supply Project Eastern and Midlands Region is a critical infrastructure project that will provide a resilient, safe, and secure water supply with capacity to support the water supply needs for up to 50 per cent of the population.

The national utility pointed out that the Government has designated the project as critical infrastructure under the Critical Infrastructure Act 2026 and deemed it essential to support the delivery of housing and growth for the State.

“The water supply in the Greater Dublin Area and significant parts of the wider East and Midlands region is on a knife edge. Current demand is exceeding what we can sustainably produce, and there is a critical need for a new water source to avoid restrictions and large-scale water outages.

“It is important to note that the proposed water supply project has the capacity to address the water supply needs for 36 water supplies across the East and Midlands region (up to 50 per cent of the population), including Tipperary, Offaly, and Westmeath – this is not simply a water supply solution for Dublin,” Uisce Éireann said.

“The need is clear, this year Uisce Éireann issued a nationwide water conservation order in order to protect supplies for homes, hospitals, vulnerable customers, and essential services, which has been extended in duration in many counties across the East and Midlands.”

The utility said that “the order was introduced to safeguard public water supplies for essential purposes following a period of exceptionally warm and dry weather, which has led to significantly increased water use across the affected areas and placed sustained pressure on water treatment plants, treated water reservoirs and the wider network.”

“This action followed a range of other measures to maintain and protect supplies, including enhanced leakage repair works, pressure management, network management, and public water conservation campaigns to help reduce water use to sustainable levels.”