Members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht are visiting the proposed locations for the €560 million eco water park and reservoir on the site of a 500 acre bog at Garryhinch County Offaly today (July 20th). The visit follows a meeting with Gabriel Darcy, chief executive of Bord na Mona, which has expressed support for the project.
Under the plans, put forward by Dublin City Council, the reservoir would supply 350 million litres of water a day to the Dublin region and serve the capital’s drinking water needs for 70 years. The project would also create a water based eco-park with fishing, boating, cycling water and leisure sports in the midlands. It is envisaged that 1,000 construction jobs would be created alongside a number of long term tourism and recreation jobs in the midlands.
“The plans outlined for a reservoir and eco park in the midlands will mean a massive outlay by the exchequer,” comments committee chairman, Ciaran Lynch TD. “Therefore, the Committee is anxious to get a proper idea on whether this project represents good value for money for the taxpayer and if it is viable from a practical perspective. We are also keen to assess the project from an environmental perspective to see whether it is sustainable.”