Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2020
157. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount spent on strategic maintenance works on the River Shannon in 2017, 2018 and 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3375/20]
View answerThe Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group was established in early 2016 by the Government to support existing plans in place and planned to address flooding and to enhance the ongoing co-operation of all state agencies involved with the River Shannon. The Group was established, at that time, following severe flooding arising from exceptional weather conditions from December, 2015 to January, 2016.
On its establishment, a priority for the Group was to develop a Work Programme that demonstrated the extensive range of activities and co-ordination by all State Agencies already underway to jointly and proactively address flood risk along the Shannon. The Group’s Annual Work Programmes are available to the public at www.opw.ie.
The Group has taken a number of significant decisions since its establishment including a plan for targeted maintenance activities along the River Shannon. Following receipt of consent from the National Parks and Wildlife Service, work involving tree cutting and the removal of silt and emergent vegetation was undertaken at five locations during the appropriate seasonal windows.
The annual expenditure for this targeted maintenance work for the years 2017-2019 is broken down as follows:
- 2017: €94,000
- 2018: €21,500
- 2019: 128,200
In January 2020, Mr. Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief, announced that he has secured government support for €7 million investment to advance a planned programme of maintenance works and the removal of constrictions or ‘pinch points’ on the bed of the River Shannon at the Callows Region between Athlone and Meelick Weir to improve the conveyancing of the River Shannon. This investment will, following full environmental assessment and planning, as well as helping to mitigate Summer, low level, flooding, support the tourism, navigation and agricultural sectors for this region.
