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IFA And ICMSA Reach Agreement On Major Water Supply Project

Wednesday, 10 September 2025 14:31

The agreement with Uisce Éireann has four elements.

Two of the largest farming associations in the country have reached an agreement with Uisce Eireann over a controversial pipeline project. 

The IFA and the ICMSA have hammered out the agreement which farmers can choose to accept or reject to pursue their own claim.  

The Water Supply Project Eastern & Midlands Region project will be one of the largest in the State's history, and is expected to cost at least €6bn.  

It will take water from the Lower River Shannon, to be treated in Tipperary and then piped through Offaly, Laois, Tipperary, and Kildare all the way to Dublin.  

The agreement, struck between the Irish Farmers Association and Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association and Uisce Eireann, contains four main elements:  

An early sign on payment; a wayleave payment; a crop loss and disturbance payment; and an special goodwill payment.  

There will be additional compensation for farmers who air valves, line valves, wash outs chambers and lay-bys on their land.   

If farmers choose to reject the offer, they can pursue their own claim through through a statutory process.

While the tax treatment of the package will rest with the individual farmer Uisce Eireann says it believes the majority of the deal offered won't be subject to VAT.

The deadline date for the return of consent forms to Irish Water has been extended from September 23rd to October 7th.

Both the IFA and ICMSA say they negotiated very hard over a number of months - Midlands 103 understands farmers are meeting in Tullamore this evening to discuss the offer.

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