Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I am only able to speak one sentence at a time. I will come to that. Dublin City Council is now carrying out a detailed appraisal of the Shannon and desalination options to determine which, if either, would represent the optimum solution to the region's long-term water needs. The appraisal is just that, an appraisal, and no decision has been taken, at either local or departmental level, as to what might be the best answer.

Any decision to proceed with the Shannon approach would first be subject to statutory procedures, including strategic environmental assessment. The statutory process provides an opportunity for all interested parties to make an input. I am well aware people on the Shannon have expressed concerns that there may be adverse consequences due to lowered water levels in the river. Others have said ground water resources could be exploited instead. All these issues remain to be fully teased out as part of the statutory process associated with the decision making on a preferred approach.

It will be clear from the foregoing that it will be some time before any proposal is likely to come before the Department for approval or funding. I assure Deputies that I, and the Department, are just as keen as the people around Lough Ree to preserve and protect the lake. It is crucial to the livelihoods of many individuals and businesses and has high amenity value for people engaged in a range of pursuits. I assure the House that before the Department would commit to funding any scheme on the Shannon, we would need to be absolutely convinced that all those factors had been taken into account and that it was the correct solution from every point of view.

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