Minister O’Donovan visits the Shannon Callows region

Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), Patrick O’Donovan, T.D., today visited the Shannon Callows region, an area between Athlone and Meelick weir which is prone to seasonal flooding. He was joined by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Pippa Hackett as well as OPW engineers and representatives from Waterways Ireland. Travelling from Banagher to Meelick weir, the Ministers were shown the area of the Shannon Callows where the planned removal of constrictions, or ‘pinch points’, can help to delay flooding in the area. Afterwards, both Ministers met with representatives from the Save our Shannon Group and the Irish Farmers’ Association.

Minister O’Donovan said:

“Through the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group, the OPW works closely with all State Agencies involved in the River Shannon to introduce measures that can assist with managing flood risk in the catchment. There are 11 communities in the Shannon River Basin District already benefitting from completed flood relief schemes which are protecting people and properties from the risk of flooding. A further 38 schemes will be delivered in the Shannon area under the Government’s €1bn investment in flood relief measures over the lifetime of the National Development Plan. Collectively, all of these schemes when completed will protect 95% of those properties identified as being at significant risk from flooding. The OPW will also provide €7m to implement a programme of strategic maintenance upstream of Ardnacrusha to assist with mitigating flooding and the removal of a number of ‘pinch points’ through the Shannon Callows that can help to delay flooding in the area. Some €4m of this funding relates directly to the removal of the ‘pinch points’ in the Callows region.”

Studies carried out as part of the Shannon Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Study and the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group highlighted potential benefits and informed the decision to remove a number of ‘pinch points’ in the Callows region. Work is advancing and a project brief is currently being prepared for the appointment of a project consultant to identify and manage all of the activities that are necessary to progress through the planning process to enable the commencement of the works. These works can only commence following completion of the appropriate environmental assessments and following receipt of planning permission.

ENDS

For further information, please contact pressoffice@opw.ie

Notes to Editors

The Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group was established by the Government in January 2016 to enhance on-going co-operation across all of the State Agencies involved with the River Shannon.

Membership

Members of the Group are at CEO level or equivalent representing the following State Agencies:

• The Office of Public Works

• Local Authorities, represented by the County and City Management Association

• Waterways Ireland

• Electricity Supply Board

• Inland Fisheries Ireland

• Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

• Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

• Bord na Móna

• Environmental Protection Agency

• Irish Water

The terms of reference for the Group are available at gov.ie/opw

Meetings of the Group

Documentation, including the Agenda, Minutes and other material relating to each meeting of the Group is available at gov.ie/opw

Activities of the Group

To add to the overall flood protection from flood relief schemes, the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group has taken several significant decisions since its establishment.

Its work to date includes:

• the development of annual Work Programmes of activities which highlight the extensive range of activities and co-ordination by all State Agencies to jointly and proactively address flood risk along the River Shannon

• the completion of targeted maintenance at five locations on the River Shannon, which has enhanced the conveyance capacity and halted further deterioration of the channel

• trialling the lowering of the lake levels on Lough Allen to help alleviate any significant flooding that may occur. Work is currently underway for monitoring and assessments to be undertaken to identify any impact from operating the protocol.

• the completion of a study to examine the cause, degree and rate of restrictions downstream of Parteen Weir in the Lower Shannon. Further work is now underway to assess the options and the potential costs and benefits of each option.

• the completion of a preliminary assessment on the potential for strategic maintenance on the River Shannon

• the completion of a study to examine the benefits of removing constrictions, resulting in lower summer water levels, on the bed of the River Shannon through the Callows region between Athlone and Meelick Weir