Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The word is "abstraction", not "diversion". Diversion suggests a change to the physical course of the river, but abstraction is the taking, by licence, of a volume of water from the river. As the water can only be taken at particular times, as the Deputy rightly points out, the level of the River Shannon cannot and must not be affected by the abstraction. It will be done according to a proper and due process, through the EPA and the planning system. There is no question but that it can only be done properly in environmental terms.

The Deputy is absolutely right about recreation on the River Shannon. It is a wonderful waterway on which billions have been spent to improve navigation and tourism amenities. The River Shannon cannot suffer as a result of this and there must be a clear community benefit from the project. If that is the case and the abstraction issues are dealt with properly and planning permission is given, I do not see any problem with the project. I have been to Ardnacrusha in the past. An uncle of mine actually worked there and I know the fantastic, monumental progress it represented when it was built. The Deputy might be interested to know that it was a Drogheda man, Dr. Thomas McLoughlin, who was in charge of the Ardnacrusha project. The plant has a beautiful art deco control room which is worth seeing - it is absolutely stunning. However, the Ardnacrusha power plant has had its day in terms of the energy needs it can supply, although that is not to say it is not functioning; it is. It meets something like 3% of our national energy requirements. I was actually surprised to discover the size of our current energy demands. For the record, my mother is from County Clare and I was born in Tipperary; as a result, I am very much tuned into the Thurles and County Clare sides of the issue.

The bigger picture is that we must step forward together and satisfy the communities affected. I repeat that I would like to go with the Deputy to meet them. I would have no problem in doing so. I would also make sure the appropriate officials were there. Obviously, the planning process will be gone through and all of the other issues will be addressed. We must listen to people and reassure them. We all want what was the Dell factory in Limerick to be occupied by people who are gainfully employed, but this is not an "us versus them" issue. It is not a Dublin versus Clare issue, although some might argue that it is. It is about everybody benefiting from this project.

As regards the hole in the bog in Garryhinch, it will allow over 200 hectares of water to be supplied to the greater Dublin area. An equivalent hole in the bog in Rutland Park in Anglia, England attracts over 1 million visitors per year, which is phenomenal. I absolutely agree with Deputy McGrath that whatever happens in Garryhinch, there must be additional improvements to tourist and other amenities on the River Shannon. That is the only way this will work and it will work if that happens. I appeal to the Deputy not to approach the issue in terms of it being Peter versus Paul or washing cats and dogs. This is about jobs, people, the area Deputy McGrath represents and the greater Dublin area. It is about meeting the needs of the various interested parties involved. Above all else, it is about listening to people, understanding the issues, meeting people's needs within and outside the planning process. We must reassure them that we do understand the issues involved and want their concerns to be addressed properly, fairly and objectively in a democratic, appropriate and proper fashion. I will pass on the Deputy's comments to the Department. I am happy to check the figures he has proffered because I have not been given them. I thank him for them.

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