Decision on multi-billion euro Shannon pipeline through Offaly delayed by a year

A planning decision on the proposed multi-billion euro River Shannon water pipeline through Offaly has been delayed by a year - with July 2, 2027, now pencilled in as the date by which the project is to be decided upon by An Coimisiún Pleanála.

The enormous infrastructure development - one of the largest ever proposed in Ireland - is designed to deliver drinking water from the Shannon's Parteen Basin to the greater Dublin area.

The proposed 1600mm diameter steel underground water pipeline would pass through more than 80 townlands in Offaly, and would also supply drinking water to parts of the Faithful County.

The remainder of its route would take in parts of Tipperary, Kildare and Dublin.

In December, a planning application consisting of more than 500 documents was submitted by Uisce Éireann, which has put a €4.5 billion to €5.9 billion pricetag on the project.

The planning decision on it was initially scheduled for the beginning of this month, but An Coimisiún Pleanála has now signalled that the scale of the proposal meant significantly more time would be needed to make a determination.

In a letter to stakeholders connected with the development, the planning commission said it would "not be possible to determine the case within the statutory objective period due to the need for further consideration" to be given to it.

"The Commission regrets the delay in determining this case," it stated, saying it "intends to determine this application before July 2, 2027".

It added: "The Commission will take all such steps as are open to it to ensure that the matter is determined before that date."

Uisce Éireann said in May of this year that, subject to a successful planning application, it hopes to start construction work on the pipeline in 2028, and that the project would take five years to complete.

It also announced in May that a procurement and tendering process would be getting underway in advance of the planning decision in order to "accelerate the delivery phase" when planning approval was in place.

In addition to the installation of the pipeline itself, there is also a proposal to construct a 2,160 square metre booster pumping station in Offaly, on 2.6 hectare site at Coagh Upper, Birr.

Four "potential future connection points" are included in the plans, two of which are in Offaly, at Killananny, near Rathrobin, and Ballyhugh or Springfield, at Mount Lucas.

In addition, eight temporary construction compounds are being proposed along the pipeline's route, including a 15.6 hectare compound at Killananny.

In a recent interview with this newspaper, Offaly County Council's chief executive, Eoghan Ryan, spoke about the pipeline project's importance to the future development of the county.

"That's going to be coming through the county, and will be providing potable water," he said.

"I think there are some great positives there for employment going into the future, so and it's about trying to capitalise and maximise that."