There is “widespread concern” among impacted farmers along the route of the proposed Shannon-Dublin water pipeline over compensation levels and the tax implications of receiving such compensation.

Around 500 landowners would be affected, should plans to construct the 172km steel pipeline from the Parteen basin on the river Shannon to a termination reservoir on the Kildare-Dublin border proceed.

The pipeline, as proposed, would travel through lands in Tipperary, Offaly and Kildare as part of Uisce Éireann’s bid to ensure sufficient supplies of water to the Greater Dublin Area into the future.

ADVERTISEMENT

Uisce Éireann has said that where it had received a re-routing request from landowners impacted along the proposed pipeline route to have the route amended, it accepted the re-routing request where it was technically feasible, was deemed to have no adverse environmental impacts and was acceptable to other impacted landowners.

Of the 140 landowner re-route requests assessed under these criteria, 50 landowners’ requests were facilitated, 44 were not facilitated, 43 were partially facilitated and for a further three, it was deemed that no re-route was required.

A period of consultation turned up responses suggesting that some farmers will be “supportive” of the plans “if disruption is minimised” but “others are opposed or distrustful, citing previous negative experiences”.

Queries regarding compensation payable to the impacted farmers was found during the consultation, with “widespread concern” cited by respondents about the amounts and timing payments; tenant v landowner compensation; calls for written clarification on the tax implications of receiving funds; and the compensation available for destocking, crop loss and long-term farmland productivity loss.

Further issues raised by the farmers impacted by the proposals concerned fields being cut off from the main farmed area and the possibility of some farmland becoming unusable after works commence.

Some of the compensation requests sought annual compensation payments for impacted farmers, as well as free water supplies, for the costs of independent engineers and agronomists to be covered by the project and for additional payments to be made where supporting infrastructure, such as valve sites, were to be installed.

Furthermore, Uisce Éireann stated that the submissions received placed a strong emphasis on “ensuring land is returned to its original condition” and the reinstatement of forests on lands through which the works are to be carried out.