€167 million wasted? Tipperary councillor slams Shannon Pipeline amid landowner disputes

Nenagh councillor Séamie Morris has raised fresh concerns over the proposed Shannon pipeline, Ireland’s largest water infrastructure project, claiming that €167 million has been wasted on landowner compensation for a scheme that still lacks full planning permission and essential licenses.

Cllr Morris shared an email thread from Uisce Éireann with constituents this week, highlighting ongoing disputes over land access along the proposed pipeline route.

According to Cllr Morris and his dialogue with Uisce Éireann, 153 landowners have received payments as part of a voluntary wayleave package, but around 100 landowners or 20% have refused consent, some of whom sit on strategically important parcels of land in Tipperary.

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“The project has no planning permission, no abstraction licence, and has not been climate proofed. Yet €167 million has already been spent,” Cllr Morris said. “This is money wasted on a project that is dead in the water.”

Uisce Éireann responded to the email thread, stressing that early engagement with landowners and voluntary wayleaves are standard practice for major infrastructure projects and are designed to reduce delays later in the planning process. The organisation said over 80% of landowners have agreed to the package so far and that payments vary depending on circumstances, making them commercially sensitive.

The organisation has also announced public consultations in Tipperary to engage with landowners and communities directly. These are scheduled for March 19 2026, from 5pm – 7pm at Thomas McDonagh Museum in Cloughjordan. Another public consultation will be held on May 13 2026 at Ardcroney Community Centre.

They also confirmed that a Strategic Infrastructure Development planning application and a Compulsory Purchase Order were submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála in December 2025. These applications remain under review.

The Shannon pipeline project, which would convey water from the River Shannon in Clare to a reservoir near Dublin, is intended to provide a resilient water supply for up to 50% of the population and support housing and economic growth.

However, local opposition has grown over environmental concerns, land rights, and the scale of compensation already paid.
Cllr Morris has long been a vocal critic of the project, along with other local representatives who have lodged objections citing potential impacts on habitats, water flow, and the balance of benefits between local communities and the Greater Dublin Area.

As planning decisions move forward, tensions remain high between national infrastructure objectives and local landowner and community concerns, with compensation, environmental protection and planning approvals at the centre of the debate.