Negotiations with North Tipperary farmers on Shannon pipe project

Efforts by Uisce Éireann to acquire lands from north Tipperary farmers to lay a pipe to supply water from the River Shannon to Dublin and the Midlands are continuing.

The water company is hoping to progress plans to lay the pipe and apply for planning permission for the muti-million euro pipe project before the end of the year.

As part of the planning process, Uisce Éireann is in negotiations with up to 500 farmers and landowners along the route of the proposed pipe stretching 172 kilometres from the extraction point on the river in Parteen Basin, near Birdhill, to the capital city.

According to reports, the farmers and landowners along the route have received a very large document in the post from Uisce Éireann in recent weeks.

Reports in national media say it is understood that all parties had agreed on a compensation package, but the two farming organisation, the IFA and ICMSA, are annoyed that the offers were issued before they could put the issue before their governing bodies.

The two organisations have expressed disappointment over the approach of the water company to its members.

In a joint statement, the organisations, who have been in negotiations on behalf of farmers with Uisce Éireann for up to a decade, have advised their members not to feel under pressure to sign early and to seek advice.

In their joint statement, the organistions stated: “Prior to the negotiations commencing, both the IFA and ICMSA made it clear to Uisce Éireann that such approval would be sought and required.

“We advised Uisce Éireann that we would put the proposed agreement to the scheduled meetings of our governing bodies in early September. The compensation package and associated items will still be put to the governing bodies at that point.

“We are disappointed that Uisce Éireann chose to issue the offer pack to landowners in the absence of a final agreement with the IFA and ICMSA.

“We have told Uisce Éireann that their September deadline for farmers to accept their offer is far too premature and suggest that they should extend this deadline by a number of weeks.”

The organisations said “farmers on the route should take the time to read the package on offer and consult with qualified advisers” and “should not feel pressured by this communication from Uisce Éireann.”

Last week the Farming Independent reported that sources close to the negotiations revealed that there would be a number of different staged payments in the compensation package, with an overall figure of €220 per meter.

It reported sources saying that rates to be paid to farmers are influenced by signing before a stipulated date and by land being used for crop growing, and that there will also be a goodwill payment for every farmer/landowner.

The sources went on to tell the Farming Independent: “We were OK with the final figures, but there were a couple of outstanding issues, such as the fact that there is still a deed of easement on land for ever if the project did not go ahead. That’s not likely, but it is a concern.”