The prospect of establishing a water park and reservoir on the site of a 500 acre bog in Co. Offaly was the topic of discussion at a meeting yesterday of the Committee on Environment, Transport, Culture and Gaeltacht, which was attended by Gabriel Darcy, Chief Executive of Bord na Móna.

The project would consist of a reservoir which would supply 350 million litres of water a day to the Dublin region and serve the capital’s drinking water needs for 70 years. A water based eco park with fishing, boating, cycling, water and leisure sports would also be created in the midlands by the project which would cost in the region of €540m.  

The building of the site would provide approximately 1,000 construction jobs in the Midlands including 100 to 150 jobs in the related tourism industry.

The aim of the committee meeting was to analyse the feasibility of the project, if it is viable from a practical perspective and whether the project is environmentally sustainable.

The Committee will visit the proposed locations for the eco water park and reservoir on the site of a 500 acre bog at Garryhinch Co. Offaly today.