Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 July 2012
403 Deputy Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the legislation, Statutory Instrument or other orders under which the water level in Lough Ree was raised in 1979; the authority responsible for controlling the water level at the Athlone weir; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32193/12]
View answerThe Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Act 1934 was enacted for the purpose of ESB further developing the water-storage capacity of Lough Derg, Lough Ree, and Lough Allen on the River Shannon. This legislation remains in effect. There was no statutory order issued specifically in 1979 in respect of Lough Ree.
The 1934 Act allows ESB to draw the water level in Lough Ree to a minimum level of what is referred to as ‘36.88m OD Poolbeg'. OD Poolbeg stands for Ordnance Datum Poolbeg — it is the level above a particular reference point associated with sea level at Poolbeg lighthouse. ESB use OD Poolbeg as a standard in measuring height above sea level.
The level in Lough Ree is about 0.5 m below the level of the weir at Athlone.
Before the increase in the use of leisure craft on the river, the lower level was not a significant issue, but with the increase in the use of the river Shannon as a boating amenity, and the use of various creeks and islands on the lake, there were many complaints from boat owners in the late 1960's and early 1970's of low levels in Lough Ree during the boating season.
As a consequence, in the early 1970's, ESB agreed to maintain a minimum level in Lough Ree of 37.49m from the beginning of April to mid-August each year, 37.19m from mid August to the beginning of October and 38.66m for the winter period, to facilitate navigation on the lake. This decision was made in consultation with the then Department of Transport and Power, the OPW and other stakeholders on the Shannon. This arrangement protects against lake levels going too low for navigation when long dry periods occur. This agreement was formalised in the ESB regulations for the Shannon in 1979.
It should be pointed out that ESB has no interest in maintaining levels in Lough Ree for electricity generation purposes.
The weir at Athlone is owned by Waterways Ireland and operated under instruction from ESB. Its purpose is to assist in maintaining a minimum level on Lough Ree.
