Pat Buckley
Question:646. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the support his Department is providing for the restoration of the Fermoy weir. [12601/20]
View answerTuesday, 23 June 2020
Questions (646)
Written answers
Restoration works to Fermoy Weir are entirely the responsibility of Cork County Council as owners of the infrastructure. My Department and its agency Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) have no function in the issue of such works to Council owned property
. My Department and IFI have liaised positively and consistently with the Council in an advisory capacity on the ancillary matter of how works to be undertaken by the Council may comply with the EU Habitats Directive and other environmental requirements, as they relate to fisheries matters.
The Council have been advised throughout that my Department and IFI have a regulatory and advisory function in relation only to the ancillary matter of fish passage and that consideration and funding of the required substantive works is entirely a matter for the Council.
Engineers for the Department have also advised on and agreed the Council’s proposed solution to the secondary fish passage issue as an important component in assisting the Council to advance its consideration of the substantive works. The Department and IFI are happy to continue liaison with the Council in this regulatory/advisory capacity.