My Office engages regularly on a trilateral basis with the ESB and Waterways Ireland to review on-going matters of cooperation and information-sharing in respect of management protocols on the River Shannon.
The most recent meeting in this regard took place on 21 September, 2011. I am pleased to note that the meeting recorded that interaction and cooperation is working well at all levels between the agencies.
The current operation protocols governing the regulation of the Shannon have recently been reviewed by consultants engaged on the Shannon Catchment Flood Risk Management and Assessment (CFRAM) Study. This review is being considered by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in the context of the CFRAM Study.
Following the flood event of November 2009, the OPW, on a daily basis, monitors with Waterways Ireland, rainfall levels and the operation of control structures on the Shannon River. In addition, OPW receives twice weekly reports from the ESB which provide a water level forecast based on the 5 day rainfall forecast from Met Éireann. These forecasts are also shared with all local authorities contiguous to the Shannon catchment and with other primary stakeholders. The ESB has also put in place a communications protocol with the Mid-West Inter Agency Emergency Group.
