Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
523. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the progress made, if any, on developing a single competent authority to co-ordinate flood risk and management along the River Shannon; if he plans to develop such an agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37829/23]
View answerIn 2016, the Government established the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Coordination Working Group to improve coordination on flood risk management between all state agencies involved with the River Shannon. This Group, which is chaired by the OPW, provides a forum where all statutory organisations with roles and responsibilities that involve the River Shannon catchment can further monitor and co-ordinate their respective work programmes to assist with managing flood risk along the Shannon catchment.
The OPW in partnership with Local Authorities is progressing a programme of flood relief schemes to address flood risk on the River Shannon. There are currently 13 completed schemes in the Shannon River Basin District and these schemes are already providing protection to over 2,600 properties. A further 36 flood relief schemes will be delivered in the Shannon catchment as part of the Government’s €1.3bn investment in flood relief measures over the lifetime of the National Development Plan to 2030. 24 of these schemes are currently being progressed including Athlone and Springfield which are currently at construction stage. When completed, the schemes will protect 95% of properties identified as being at significant risk from flooding in the Shannon River Basin District.
Outside of the major flood relief schemes, local flooding issues are being addressed by local authorities with support from the OPW under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. This scheme provides funding for minor flood mitigation works or studies, costing less than €750,000 each, to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems. To date, the OPW has approved funding of €35m for over 600 projects for the Shannon River Basin District.
To add to the overall flood protection from flood relief schemes, the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Coordination Working Group produces an annual Work Programme that demonstrates the extensive work and co-ordination by all State bodies to jointly and proactively help address flood risk on the Shannon under the following themes of activity: physical works, maintenance, water management, regulatory, policy and planning. The group is currently progressing a number of collaborative initiatives including developing a strategic maintenance programme. The Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Coordination Working Group also prepares an implements an annual maintenance programme.
According to Met Eireann, this July was provisionally the wettest on record. On a day to day basis, water levels on the Shannon River are managed in accordance with agreed protocols between Waterways Ireland and the ESB. There is daily communication and a coordinated approach between those two bodies. Water levels on the Shannon are monitored on a daily basis, along with weather forecasts. This informs decisions around sluice gate opening and closing procedures and the operation of weirs, within the agreed protocols.
These operations influence the levels on the Shannon but due to the shallow gradient of the river and the many natural restrictions along its course, the levels cannot be fully controlled especially when the Shannon is in flood. In circumstances where there is heavy summer rainfall and increased river levels, flood risks are mitigated to the greatest extent possible, through these actions. However, once all measures have been taken by Waterways Ireland and the ESB, summer flooding in the Shannon Callows can still occur, as it does in the winter period.
Possible approaches to provide a long term solution to summer flooding in the Shannon Callows are being developed by the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group. This work is subject to the required environmental assessments and any works will be subject to appropriate consents.
The preparation of legislation to improve the management of flood risk on the River Shannon is a Government priority. The management of flood risk on the river is closely intertwined with other uses of the river such as for navigation, dam safety and electricity generation. The OPW has conducted an analysis of existing legislation regarding the management of the River Shannon, including a review of the powers of various bodies involved with the river. Given the powers an functions of the various bodies the preparation of legislative proposals is a complex piece of work. The OPW, in line with Government direction, is prioritising this work.
