Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 April 2019
112. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the required approvals will be applied for a special area of conservation in order to remove the build-up of silt on the mud flats outside the sluice gates and open a channel to deep water at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15602/19]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the maintenance of Arterial Drainage Schemes and catchment drainage schemes designated under the Arterial Drainage Acts of 1945 and 1995.
The sluice gates referred to by the Deputy form part of the River Maine Catchment Drainage Scheme for which the OPW has maintenance responsibility.
Staff from the OPW inspected the sluices in October 2018 and found them to be in proper repair and operating effectively. The sluice gates will be inspected again at low tide to see if a build-up of silt on the mud flats outside the sluices has occurred and is impeding the channel flow.
