Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 September 2023
195. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform for an update on the ESB’s plans and ongoing work to prepare for floods along the River Shannon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41561/23]
View answer214. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the status of the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-Ordination Working Group, which was established in 2016; the current membership of the group; the last time the group met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41545/23]
View answer215. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform for an overview of the work done by the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-Ordination Working Group since 2020; an overview of the work scheduled for 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41546/23]
View answer216. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform for an update on the €7 million provided to remove the pinch points on the River Shannon; the amount of funding drawn down to date; the progress made to date; the works planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41557/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 195, 214, 215 and 216 together.
In 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 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 Group is comprised of the following membership and comes under the chairmanship of the Office of Public Works.• Office of Public Works (OPW);• Local Authorities, represented by the City and County Management Association (CCMA)• Waterways Ireland;• Electricity Supply Board (ESB);• Inland Fisheries Ireland;• Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine;• Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage;• Bord na Móna;• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA);• Uisce Eireann; The Attorney General’s Office and other Government Departments may also participate, as requested by the Chairman. The Group previously met on 26 April 2023 and the next meeting of the group is scheduled for 11 October 2023. Minutes of the Groups meetings, details of membership and work programmes are available at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/4d487d-shannon-flood-risk-state-agency-co-ordination-working-group/
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 ESB is currently carrying out essential maintenance on Water Control Equipment, Generators and other elements as outlined in the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Group work programme for 2023. The ESB continuously monitors the water levels throughout the Shannon and operates in accordance with its regulations and guidelines for control of the River Shannon. The Government has noted the study by the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group that supports a programme of strategic maintenance to help mitigate flooding along the River Shannon and a further study on the removal of a series of constrictions or ‘pinch points’ through the Shannon Callows that can help to delay flooding in the area. However, the Shannon Callows includes two sites designated under European Environmental legislation, the River Shannon Callows SAC and the Middle Shannon Callows SPA. Any proposed solution will be subject to the relevant assessments and consents.
The Government has agreed that the OPW will provide €7m for all of these works, of which €4m relates to the removal of ‘pinch points’ through the Shannon Callows and €3m relates to strategic maintenance. Under the strategic maintenance fund, €500,000 was provided by the OPW to Waterways Ireland for the initial phase of the strategic maintenance works.
