Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
112. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the recently announced Annacotty Weir improvement programme; the proposed timeline for completion of the programme; if funding has been allocated to enable completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63075/21]
View answerAnnacotty Weir on the lower Mulkear River has been identified as a “significant barrier” to the free movement of several fish species. The weir has been designated as “high priority” for fish passage improvement and Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) ) is managing the project as a pilot within the barriers programme under the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage (DHLGH). My Department and IFI will shortly consult with DHLGH, the lead Department on the national barriers programme, on substantive issues of funding and delivering the project. Pending these discussions IFI plans to go to tender for services to help deliver the preparatory technical, engineering and planning elements of the Annacotty Weir project.
IFI has already begun works to initiate what is a very significant project and have completed an assessment of the weir structure to quantify its fish passage capacity and have also undertaken initial title research to identify the owners of land and structures potentially impacted by the project.
Engagement with key state agencies and semi-state bodies has been undertaken by IFI to ensure all relevant stakeholders are actively involved in the project from the outset.
The next project phase in 2022 will involve extensive stakeholder and public engagement, to ensure that all stakeholder views are captured to form part of the planning process.
