Decision on €5.9bn River Shannon water project delayed until 2027

Planning decision on the proposed 170km pipeline supplying water to the east has been delayed by up to two years

An Coimisiún Pleanála postpones ruling on River Shannon water supply project. Picture: Limerick City and County Council.

An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP) has deferred its decision on Uisce Éireann's plans to extract more than 300 million litres of water per day from the River Shannon to serve the greater Dublin region.

Described as the largest water infrastructure project in the State's history, the Proposed Water Supply Project for the Eastern and Midlands Region would see Uisce Éireann extract millions of litres of water from the River Shannon during drought periods to boost water supplies in the east of the country.

The ACP was due to make a decision on Uisce Éireann's Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) application on July 2. However, it has written to all parties confirming that the commission "now intends to determine this application before July 2, 2027".

In the letter, the ACP said the commission "will take all such steps as are open to it to ensure that the matter is determined before that date".

Last December, Uisce Éireann applied for planning permission for the project, which includes the construction of a 170km steel pipeline. 

An Coimisiún Pleanála subsequently held a statutory public consultation, which closed on February 25, 2026.

The project is estimated to cost between €4.6bn and €5.9bn. It would involve drawing water from the River Shannon at Parteen Basin in Co Tipperary.

A total of 114 submissions have been lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála in relation to the proposals. Among those objecting is the River Shannon Environmental Protection Alliance, which said the project represents a "high-risk, high-cost, and environmentally unsound approach to water supply".