Vol. 552 No. 1
238 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Finance if funds will be made available to re-stock the River Nore following completion of the drainage scheme; if the weir levels will be replaced; and if proper fish cover will be provided. [11243/02]
Liaison between the Office of Public Works and the Central and Southern Regional Fisheries Board has taken place since the inception of the scheme and will continue past its completion. This is to ensure that all mitigation measures relating to fisheries habitat will be done in consultation with the two boards. At present, specialist studies in relation to the habitat and numbers of crayfish and lamprey within the scheme boundaries are under way. Upon completion of the construction works, the riverbed and fisheries habitat will be reinstated by Office of Public Works under the direction of the Southern Regional Fisheries Board. The weirs have been breached to allow water levels to drop to permit scheme works to proceed. Once the works have been completed the weirs will be reinstated.
