Grace O'Sullivan (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Grant for his presentation.

With regard to recent information he gave to the Joint Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services, Mr. Grant said he was forced to rethink the water usage calculation after it became evident individual usage is 110 litres per person per day. This is significantly less than what Irish water had originally calculated. What would be the impact of this usage deficit on this proposed Shannon scheme?

Mr. Grant also said this week that 765 million litres of water is lost a day through leakage, 45% of overall water production, and that Irish Water is making quite a headway in reducing this. I assume that will happen in the future. Has this been factored into the calculations for water needs in the greater Dublin area?

In addition, we have spoken about water-saving devices, and technology in this regard has moved on through good developments. Could something be done in this area to reduce the need to create this massive development? I have many concerns about this proposed scheme and we are hearing from communities around the country with regard to it.

Has any scoping exercise been done on the environmental impacts of such a large construction project? Has the impact of climate change with regard to greenhouse gases and our obligations over the course of the development of this project been taken into account?

The Kennedy report refutes much of the information that Mr. Grant gave the committee today. What are his views on this report and the concerns it has raised?

Has Irish Water considered the canals as a way of bringing water from the Shannon to Dublin? It would not impact as much on the landowners along the way? Has this been considered?