Landowners sign up for pipeline

Uisce Éireann has made 153 compensation payments to farmers and landowners impacted by the planned pipeline between Parteen and the Eastern and Midlands Region.

Over 80% of the roughly 500 landowners affected – of which 128 are in Tipperary – have agreed to a voluntary wayleave package.

The wayleave package was agreed last year with the IFA and ICMSA. While Uisce Éireann is keeping deals struck with individual landowners confidential, it is understood that the package agreed will result in an average payout of around €100,000 per landowner.

Updated information on the project was obtained by Nenagh councillor Séamie Morris, who questioned the spending of €15.3 million of taxpayers’ money on a project that has yet to receive planning permission. Cllr Morris said €167 million has already been spent on the pipe project to date, which he regarded as “wasted” money, saying the pipe is “very unlikely” to be approved by An Coimisiún Pleanála.

‘CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE’

In correspondence with Cllr Morris, Uisce Éireann described the Water Supply Project as “a critical infrastructure project that will provide a resilient, safe, and secure water supply with capacity to address the water supply needs for up to 50% of the population. The delivery of the Water Supply Project is critical to the delivery of housing and growth for the state.”

Uisce Éireann lodged a Strategic Infrastructure Development planning application and Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) application to An Coimisiún Pleanála last December. It said it was always intended to offer a wayleave package to landowners along the proposed pipeline route, and to acquire wayleaves on a voluntary basis, in advance of the submission of a planning application and CPO.

“Landowner buy-in is an essential part of the process, greatly reducing the risk associated with the planning and Compulsory Purchase Order processes,” Cllr Morris was told. “As delays are one of the biggest causes of cost increases on infrastructure projects, landowner buy-in at an early stage is a key mitigant to expediate delivery.”

‘VERY POSITIVE RESPONSE’

Uisce Éireann stated at the end of last year that around three-quarters of impacted landowners and farmers had agreed to provide the utility with access rights to their land in return for compensation. It said that by April of this year that number had risen to more than 80%, which was “a very positive response”.

“A total of 153 consenting wayleaves have received payments to date. We cannot share specific monetary details as these are commercially sensitive with active negotiations on the land and wayleaves elements for the project ongoing. All compensation payments are individually calculated and vary considerably by landowner. The content of the voluntary wayleave package was agreed with the farming organisations, was recommended by external experts and represents value for money for the taxpayer.

“The package is appropriate for a project of this scale and ensures landowners are adequately compensated, including initial payments to landowners along the pipeline route. Provisions are included within the package for payment to mitigate the impact of the construction and operational phases of the project.

“In addition, we have agreed a comprehensive Code of Practice, which both outlines the restrictions on the contractors’ working methods and gives commitments to return the land to its original condition following our works.”

‘DEAD IN THE WATER’

Cllr Morris has been the most outspoken opponent of the pipe proposal since it was first mooted some 20 years ago. He noted from Uisce Éireann’s response that a fifth of landowners have not agreed to the package and said this could be telling.

“The amount of landowners who have refused the voluntary wayleave has gone to 100 out of 500, meaning 20% of landowners and some of them sitting in the most strategic land in terms of land for vital infrastructure (mostly in Tipperary),” Cllr Morris stated. He believed the project would not receive planning permission due to its environmental impact and absence of an abstraction licence.

“So let me sum it up: €167 million wasted on a project that is dead in the water,” Cllr Morris said. “€167 million wasted on a project going nowhere.”