The Irish government has announced its approval of a €5 billion (about $5.4 billion) project to construct a water pipeline from the River Shannon to Dublin. 

The 170-kilometer (105-mile) pipeline is described by the government as "one of the largest and most important infrastructure projects in the history of the State." It is seen as crucial to supporting continued housing development and economic growth in the Dublin area.

Dublin and surrounding counties rely heavily on the River Liffey for their water supply. Officials say this dependence creates a "serious vulnerability" to risks like drought or pollution events impacting the country's most populated areas.

"This important first step on a multi-billion-euro project will ensure a sustainable water supply for our country for years to come," Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien said in a statement.

The project will involve extracting water from the Shannon at Parteen Basin downstream of Lough Derg and transporting it via pipeline through counties Tipperary, Offaly, and Kildare to a reservoir in Peamount, County Dublin.

The concept of a Shannon-to-Dublin pipeline has been under consideration for over a decade. The government says hundreds of options were evaluated, and the approved plan represents "the culmination of extensive and detailed appraisal of potential solutions and alternatives, in addition to widespread stakeholder consultation."

However, environmental concerns are expected from groups in the Shannon region.

The next step will be the submission of a planning application by the state-owned water utility, Uisce Éireann. Construction is anticipated to take approximately five years.