Waterways Ireland

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 October 2020

Thursday, 1 October 2020

Ceisteanna (148, 166)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

148. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the protocol for the closure of sluice gates in Athlone and the dates in July 2020 that the ESB closed sluice gates in Athlone; the number closed on each date; the protocol for the removal of boards and the opening of sluice gates in Meelick; the dates in July 2020 that Waterways Ireland opened sluice gates and removed boards; the number of boards removed and gates opened on each date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27992/20]

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

166. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the protocol for the removal of boards and the opening of sluice gates in Meelick; the dates in July 2020 that Waterways Ireland staff or their agents opened sluice gates and removed boards; and the number of boards removed and gates opened on each date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27993/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 166 together.

The protocol for the closure of sluice gates in Athone is determined by the ESB.

If the sluice gates are closed in Athlone, Waterways Ireland will carry out an appropriate sluice operation in the Meelick area.

Waterways Ireland as the Inland Navigation Authority, operates the sluices and weir boards in the Meelick area. There are 30 sluices south of Banagher. They are on two channels in parallel in the Meelick area with

- 18 sluices on the new cut; and

- 12 sluices on Meelick weir.

Waterways Ireland has stated that the operating procedure is as follows:

When water levels are indicated as being at 2.18 (35.41) metres on the gauge at Banagher and falling, sluices are closed on either the new cut or Meelick weir. This regime continues when all but 3 to 5 sluices are closed and water levels continue to fall. The weir boards are installed on the 57 bays of the weir to maintain water levels for Navigation purposes. The reverse applies when water levels at the gauge at Banagher exceed 2.18 metres and sluices are opened in the Meelick area and the weir boards removed.

The table below shows the number of sluice gates open and closed by the ESB and Waterways Ireland and the number of boards removed for the month of July 2020.

BANAGHER AREA/MEELICK					ATHLONE SOUTH
DATE	Water Level	SLUICES OPEN	RAINFALL(mm)	WEIR BOARDS	W.L.	SLUICES OPEN	RAINFALL(mm)
1ST July	35.36	12	1.7	IN	35.63	4	5
2nd July	35.39	13	0.9	IN	35.68	4	4.6
3rd July	35.42	15	2.6	IN	35.7	6	2.9
4th July	35.48	18	0.2	IN	35.91	6	2
5th July	35.53	19	0	IN	35.98	6	2.7
6th July	35.53	19	0.9	IN	35.98	6	2.4
7th July	35.53	20	1.1	IN	36.01	6	3.6
8th July	35.5	23	9.7	IN	36.06	6	10.5
9th July	35.43	25	11.1	REMOVED ILLEGALLY	36.06	0	10.3
10th July	35.44	26	0	OUT/Retrieving weir boards	36.04	0	0
11th July	35.4	28	0	OUT	36.09	0	0
12th July	35.36	29	0	OUT	36.09	0	0
13th July	35.34	30	0.4	OUT/Retrieving weir boards	36.09	0	0
14th July	35.33	30	0	OUT/Retrieving weir boards	36.09	0	0
15th July	35.31	30	1.4	OUT	36.09	0	2.3
16th July	35.29	30	0	OUT	36.09	0	0
17th July	35.26	28	0	OUT	36.04	0	0.2
18th July	35.27	28	0.6	OUT	36.04	0	4.4
19th July	35.27	38	0	OUT	36.04	0	0
20th July	35.25	25	0	OUT	35.98	0	0
21st July	35.26	23	0	OUT	35.96	0	0
22nd July	35.26	22	3.1	OUT	35.93	0	1.9
23rd July	35.25	19	0.3	OUT	35.93	0	2.7
24th July	35.29	19	0	OUT	36.01	2	1.2
25th July	35.28	22	3.9	OUT	35.96	1	8.3
26th July	35.28	21	4	OUT	35.96	1	10.3
27th July	35.32	21	10	OUT	35.98	1	14.4
28th July	35.38	26	0	OUT	36.06	1	0.7
29th July	35.34	24	0	OUT	36.01	0	0
30th July	35.35	25	5.5	OUT	36.06	0	10
31st July	35.4	28	4.9	OUT	36.14	0	2.6
			62.3				103