The channel in question is part of the River Feale Catchment Drainage Scheme which was carried out by the Office of Public Works (OPW) under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945. The OPW continues to have a statutory responsibility for the maintenance of this scheme.
Each year the OPW carries out work to approximately 2,000 km of channels and some 200 structures around the country as part of its ongoing and rolling arterial drainage maintenance programme. The timing of work on individual projects is determined having regard to the needs of regular maintenance and the prioritisation of urgent jobs. As already indicated to the individual concerned by OPW staff, the replacement of this sluice is included on the 2016 work programme for the River Feale CDS.