Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 December 2022
190. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the plans that the ESB, the Office of Public Works and Waterways Ireland have in place to prepare for floods along the River Shannon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61041/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra191. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the €7 million allocated to remove pinch points on the River Shannon between Athlone and Meelick has been drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61043/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 190 and 191 together.
The Deputy will be aware that the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group (the Group) was established by the Government in early 2016. The Group was established, at that time, following severe flooding arising from exceptional weather conditions between December 2015 and January 2016.
The Group’s purpose to provide 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’s work is informed by the Flood Risk Management Plans for the Shannon River Basin District (RBD). Currently, there are 13 completed schemes in the Shannon RBD and these schemes are already providing protection to over 2,600 properties. A further 36 flood relief schemes will be delivered or underway 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, all schemes will protect 95% of properties identified as being at significant risk from flooding in the Shannon RBD.
The Group last met in Athlone on 20th October 2022. At that meeting, the Group discussed a range of issues relating to work underway to assist with flood risk management along the River Shannon including the project for the removal of the ‘pinch points’ through the Callows region between Athlone and Meelick weir. The Government has noted the decision of the Group to invest €4m in this project and a further €3m in strategic maintenance along the River Shannon.
A Steering Group has been established to oversee the project for the Callows region. A brief is currently being finalised for the appointment of a consultant to carry out the initial analysis and design work. The number and location of ‘pinch points’ to be removed will be confirmed as part of the consultant’s work. The project will be subject to planning consent which will require Environmental Impact Assessment and Appropriate Assessment under the Birds and Habitats Directives. Further consents may be required under other legislation. No work can commence in the absence of all appropriate consents.
The Group is also progressing the following work:
- the development of an annual Work Programme for 2023 which will include a broad range of planned activities by State Agencies that can help to manage flood risk along the River Shannon,
- the identification of possible measures to manage vegetation which has built up downstream of the University of Limerick and the Mulkear River,
- a review of areas that require maintenance along the River Shannon. A steering group has been established to oversee this project and it is finalising a list of sites for maintenance work,
- Waterways Ireland is undertaking some tree cutting works that will enhance the conveyance capacity and navigation on the River Shannon.
As a member of the Group, the ESB has provided the OPW with the following information in relation to its operations.
The ESB is continuously monitoring the water levels throughout the Shannon and continues to operate in accordance with its regulations and guidelines for control of the River Shannon.
The ESB:
- engages with the local authorities and Waterways Ireland on a daily basis when Lough Derg, Lough Ree or Lough Allen is in flood,
- publishes its twice weekly predicted water levels and expected discharge amounts based on the latest Met Éireann forecast,
- publishes the water levels throughout the three lakes and Ardnacrusha discharges on a daily basis. This information can be found on ESB’s website at: Hydrometric Information (esb.ie), and
- communicates discharges at Parteen Weir to local stakeholders by text message on a daily basis when Lough Derg is in flood.
While the ESB has an influence on water levels on some parts of the river as mentioned above, it does not control the water level of the River Shannon, nor was the Shannon Hydro-electric Scheme designed for that purpose. The river level is primarily the result of the amount of rain that falls on the river catchment area. While the ESB uses the water flowing in the river to generate electricity when it reaches Ardnacrusha, the rate at which the water travels to Ardnacrusha is primarily a result of the natural topography of the river and the natural restrictions in the river. It takes many days for water to travel down the Shannon. There have been times when there was flooding in the Callows area south of Athlone and further north yet only enough water in Ardnacrusha to operate the generating station at less than half maximum output.
The ESB can only manage the flow of water as it arrives at Parteen Weir from Lough Derg. All of the water arriving at Parteen weir is discharged either via Ardnacrusha station or down the old Shannon channel. The ESB does not store any water upstream of Parteen weir in the Parteen Basin.
The water flow from Lough Derg to Parteen Basin is restricted by the flow capacity of the outlet channel from Lough Derg at Killaloe. The capacity restriction acts like a bottleneck limiting the discharge from Lough Derg. The ESB will continue to maximise the discharge of water from Lough Derg.
The ESB will be operating in accordance with its regulations and guidelines for control of the River Shannon and will be in frequent contact with all stakeholders across the winter.
Waterways Ireland, as a member of the Group, has provided the OPW with the following information in relation to its operations and the current status regarding sluices at Meelick weir and Athlone weir.
Waterways Ireland has been and continues to operate the water level regime on the Shannon in line with established protocols and in conjunction with the ESB.
In the case of the Lower Shannon:
- All sluices are open on Meelick Weir (12) and the New Cut (18) at present and have been open since 16th October, 2022.
- The tilting gates on Meelick weir are in the down position and have been since 7th October 2022.
- Sluices on Athlone Weir have been closed since 17th October 2022.
Waterways Ireland has advised that there is no further action that it can take at Meelick weir at this time.
With regard to the North Shannon, Waterways Ireland has been operating sluice movements at Termonbarry, Rooskey and Jamestown in line with the agreed protocols. 12 sluices have been open at the three locations on the North Shannon since mid-October.
It is not possible to predict rainfall with any certainty beyond 5 days to 2 weeks, depending on how unsettled the meteorological situation is. Therefore, actions can only be taken within these timelines and in line with agreed water level management protocols on the River Shannon.
Under the Strategic Emergency Management Framework, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is designated as the Lead Government Department with responsibility for severe weather events, including flooding. Local Authorities are designated as the lead agency for response to flooding in the Framework for Major Emergency Management.
