Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I want to ask about the water supply project. I speak from experience in a previous occupation I had. The project is coming from across the road from where I live. A full environmental impact assessment report and a Natura impact statement, NIS, are being prepared. If the Secretary General does not have all the information, he can supply it to us in writing afterwards. What are the timelines for this project over the coming years because obviously the Department plans ahead? I understand it goes to An Bord Pleanála this year.

On the scale of this project, I raise a big flag here about scope creep. Essentially, this will be an Irish Rail for water. It is not just bringing water to Dublin; it also covers the midlands, etc., which, by the way, is fine. I have covered the timelines for this project and the potential for scope creep.

Third, how will this be tendered for given the conversations we have had? Is this one project or multiple projects? Those are genuine questions because I do not know. The project kicked off a few years ago, but what is the update on timelines. It goes to An Bord Pleanála this year. Over the coming years, I am genuinely concerned about project creep. How will the project be tendered for? Will it be in blocks or one big project? Has that been decided? Surely something must have been decided if we have plans going out for the next few years.

I accept that Project Ireland 2040 is not the Secretary General's area. As a public servant he implements policy. I have concerns about Project Ireland 2040 as regards regionalisation and its scale given that we need to redesign how our population is going. However, that is a different story. I ask the Secretary General to deal with those three questions.