John Whelan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I do. I welcome the Minister of State's answer. I think the problem is duly identified and there is a solution afoot. My concern relates to the answer in that the lead-in time is up to three years. Time is of the essence. Three Ministers are involved - the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources; the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government; and the Minister of State with responsibility for the NewERA project who I know are all committed to ensuring this problem is addressed. However, it is important that we have a coherent strategy that identifies the urgency of this project and the fact that it needs to be addressed without any further delay.

I also pay due regard to the concerns of the Shannon valley and residents along the Shannon basin. Eighteen counties are involved. I would not for a second dismiss or in any fashion take lightly their environmental or ecological concerns. I would not support this project if I thought for one second that it would damage the environment or ecology of the Shannon basin. I reiterate that the Shannon is in flood for 80% of the year and that the proposal by Dublin City Council, Bord na Móna and now Irish Water is to abstract 2% to 4% of water from the Shannon when it is in flood. The water in question very often damages the land and causes serious problems throughout most of the year so I think it is a very viable project. It is in everyone's interest, not just the Dublin region but the midlands and beyond. This is a €500 million investment that will create 1,000 construction jobs and thereafter, we will have a resource and asset for the country in terms of strategic infrastructure and a recreational resource comparable to Rutland Water in east Anglia in the UK which will create 250 to 300 sustainable jobs. I wish to make the point that it would be putting the cart before the horse if we were to charge for and meter water before we provide for the provision of that water. I urge the Government and Ministers, including the Minister of State with us this evening, to back the message that they must expedite the construction of the Garryhinch reservoir because time is of the essence and because it would be an absolute absurdity to allow this country to run out of water. That is what we face unless we build a new reservoir.