Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 November 2020
336. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the planned feasibility study on the Plassey pinch point on the Shannon River has been completed; if so, when the study will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35340/20]
View answer337. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he or the Minister of State for the Office of Public Works has met with the Shannon Flood risk management coordination group in the past three months; and if not, when the meeting will take place. [35341/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 336 and 337 together.
The 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 is chaired by the Office of Public Works and meets twice each year. In 2020, the Group met on 30th April and I attended its recent meeting which was held on 22nd October.
The Group has taken a number of significant decisions since its establishment, including
- Implementing targeted maintenance at five locations on the River Shannon,
- Completing a study to examine the removal of constrictions resulting in lower summer water levels through the Shannon Callows, to help address the summer flooding in this area while maintaining the appropriate navigation requirements,
- Trialling the lowering of the lake levels on Lough Allen to help alleviate any significant flooding that may occur,
- Completing a preliminary assessment on the potential for strategic maintenance on the River Shannon and agreeing to a €7 million strategic programme of maintenance works and the removal of constrictions or ‘pinch points’ on the bed of the River Shannon between Athlone and Meelick Weir to improve the conveyancing of the River Shannon.
In addition, a Hydro-Geomorphology Study to examine the cause, degree and rate of restriction downstream of Parteen Weir in the Lower Shannon has been carried out. This study included a review of sediment patterns downstream of Parteen Weir. At its meeting on 22nd of October, the Group agreed to the next phase of this work which will involve a high level assessment to explore the various options, potential benefits and indicative costs of each option and a more detailed study to identify appropriate measures for the preferred option.
The Hydro-Geomorphology Study is available from the OPWs website www.opw.ie.
