Council opposes Shannon drinking water bid

Limerick has joined the growing opposition to Dublin taking drinking water from the River Shannon.

Limerick City Council yesterday unanimously voted through a motion opposing the move to have Bord na Móna, in conjunction with Dublin City Council, develop a massive scheme to pipe drinking water to the east coast.

The council’s decision followed presentations in recent weeks from Dublin City Council and the Save Our Shannon opposition lobby.

Cllr John Gilligan, who proposed the motion, said: “This is just another preposterous proposal to try and sort out their problems up there. They say the project would cost about €500m, but it would probably end up costing billions.

He added it is “up to Dublin to sort out their own problems” adding councillors “ were not impressed” by the presentation made by Dublin City Council.

“I don’t know if this will be the end of it as far as we are concerned but I hope those in Dublin pushing this plan will reflect on it,” he said.

“In Dublin they are losing 30% of their supply from leakage and they should start by sorting out this huge loss of supply. If you look at Ireland as a whole, the idea of systematically continuing to develop the east coast at the expense of every place else, is something which will have to halt.

“They are continuing to build even though they don’t have enough water for the housing already built.”