The plans for a €540 million eco water park and reservoir on the site of a 500 acre bog in County Offaly will be considered with the Chief Executive of Born na Móna at today's meeting of the Oireachtas Environment, Transport, Culture and Gaeltacht committee.

Under the plans, put forward by Dublin City Council, the reservoir would supply 350 million litres of water a day to the Dublin region and serve the capital’s drinking water needs for 70 years. The project would also create a water based eco-park with fishing, boating, cycling water and leisure sports in the midlands. It is envisaged that 1,000 construction jobs would be created alongside a number of long term tourism and recreation jobs in the midlands.

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Bord na Móna who own the bog, have expressed their commitment to support the project. Its chief executive, Gabriel Darcy will attend today’s meeting to consider this and other matters relating to the operation of the organisation.

Committee Chairman, Ciaran Lynch TD said: "The plans outlined for a reservoir and eco park in the midlands will mean a massive outlay by the exchequer. Therefore, the Committee is anxious to get a proper idea on whether this project represents good value for money for the taxpayer and if it is viable from a practical perspective. We are also keen to assess the project from an environmental perspective to see whether it is sustainable.

"To achieve this, the Committee will meet with the Bord Na Móna CEO today to consider the plan in further detail before visiting the proposed locations in Laois and Offaly on Wednesday."

(BMcN/GK)