Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 October 2018
73. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of the management of the River Shannon as part of the managing flood risk in Ireland report; the timelines of the projects announced in the report; the annual funding allocation until 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43919/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 3rd May, 2018, I was delighted to launch 29 Flood Risk Management Plans and €1bn investment in flood risk over the coming decade.
These Plans are the output from the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme - the largest ever flood risk study carried out in the State.
The Plans set out the measures proposed to address the flood risk nationally, and include 19 new flood relief schemes to protect towns in the catchment of the Shannon River in particular, in addition to the scheme underway in Athlone due to be completed in 2020.
Eleven of these have been prioritised, as part of this ten year programme. The OPW and the Local Authorities have been engaging pro-actively since the launch of the Plans to advance the implementation of these schemes including Springfield, Ballinasloe, Nenagh, Longford, Rahan, Castleconnell, Mohill, Leitrim, Clonaslee and Killaloe and for a viable scheme for the remainder of Limerick City, King's Island and environs, following the completion advance works at Verdant Place, King's Island.
An annual funding allocation for the national flood risk management policy has been allowed for in the National Development Plan as follows: €70m in 2018; €80m in 2019; €90m in 2020 and €100m in 2021 and each year thereafter.
In January 2016, the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group was established by Government to support the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Programme and further enhance the on-going co-operation across all of the State agencies involved with the River Shannon, including ESB, Waterways Ireland, Bord na Móna, Inland Fisheries Ireland, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, OPW and the relevant local authorities. The Shannon Group has taken a number of significant decisions since its establishment, including targeted maintenance at a number of locations, trialling the lowering of the levels on Lough Allen, studies to explore managing flood risk at the Callows and a feasible long term maintenance programme for the River Shannon.
