€13.6 million for river barrier projects under the Barrier Mitigation Programme
- Foilsithe:
- An t-eolas is déanaí:
Funding Announced for 103 projects nationwide with Inland Fisheries Ireland by Minister James Browne and Minister of State Christopher O’Sullivan
103 projects around the country will benefit from a €13.6 million investment from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to restore free flowing rivers by addressing physical barriers such as dams and weirs impacting our waterways.
The ‘Barrier Mitigation Programme’ is led by Inland Fisheries Ireland to improve river connectivity by strategically targeting significant barriers to fish passage and structures that are degrading river form, flow and function.The capital works approved for the 103 projects across the country are expected to improve aquatic ecosystems and support fish populations in our rivers, thereby helping biodiversity.
The Government’s 2024 Water Action Plan committed to provide funding for barrier mitigation. A funding call from IFI took place in May 2025 to identify, select, and progress projects to address longitudinal barriers in Irish waterways. The 103 projects now announced meet predetermined ecological and implementation criteria and will proceed through the various project phases over the next 1-5 years.
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne TD said:
“The 103 fish barrier mitigation projects being initiated across Ireland are an important step towards accelerating improvements in water quality, particularly with respect to river connectivity and fish migration. This lays a great foundation from which future success can be achieved to improve water quality. My Department is proud to continue to fund the National Barrier Mitigation Programme through the Government’s current investment in water quality initiatives in 2026.”
Work began in 2018 to create a barrier inventory and prioritisation programme, operated by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), who have been cataloguing, assessing and prioritising the need for mitigation of longitudinal barriers (such as dams or weirs, for example) across Ireland, in recognition of the impacts of manmade barriers to the free flowing of waterways and indeed on the species living in our rivers.
The Barriers Mitigation Programme (BMP) was established in 2024 as a measure to address these physical impacts and the announcement today of the 103 projects represents significant progress in the protection of our rivers.
Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan TD emphasised:
“Today’s announcement is an investment in the health of our rivers and the species that call them home, and a vital contribution towards the achievement of Ireland’s targets for free-flowing rivers under the Nature Restoration Law. It’s essential that we continue to make efforts to improve the ecological status of our freshwater habitats, not only to improve the fortunes of iconic and threatened species like Atlantic salmon, European eel and lamprey, but also for everyone who loves and cherishes their local river.”
The Barrier Mitigation Programme supports requirements under the Water Framework Directive and conservation objectives in Special Areas of Conservation and for the Habitats Directive Annex II and V listed fish species, as well contributing to climate mitigation. It will also contribute to the EU Biodiversity Strategy, which sets a European wide target of making at least 25,000km of rivers free flowing again by 2030. Furthermore, Article 9 of the EU Nature Restoration Law (NRL) provides for the restoration of the natural connectivity of rivers and natural functions of the related floodplains.
Barry Fox Deputy CEO of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) added:
“IFI is deeply committed to restoring natural connectivity in our rivers by removing obstacles for migrating fish. The agency is delivering an ambitious programme of barrier mitigation works nationwide. These works will contribute to the long-term sustainability and productivity of our rivers into the future.”
Notes to the Editor
The projects approved for funding under the ‘Barrier Mitigation Programme’ are listed below.
|
Milford Weir (Barrow) |
Carlow |
|
Templeowen Weir |
Carlow |
|
Aghade Weir, Tullow |
Carlow |
|
Ballymurphy weir |
Carlow |
|
Borris Weir |
Carlow |
|
Tullow Weir |
Carlow |
|
Hacketstown Weir, Carlow |
Carlow |
|
St. Mullin's Bridge |
Carlow |
|
St. Mullin's Mill Weir |
Carlow |
|
Ballybeg Little Bridge (Barrow) |
Carlow |
|
Borris Weir |
Carlow |
|
Sion Cross |
Carlow |
|
Castlelake Weir |
Clare |
|
Clondulane Weir |
Cork |
|
Glashaboy (Weir) |
Cork |
|
Ovens Bridge (Bride River) |
Cork |
|
Weir Doneraile |
Cork |
|
Doneraile Weir 2 |
Cork |
|
Araglin Bridge Apron (Cork - Araglin) |
Cork |
|
Bride River Bridge Apron (Cork - Bride) |
Cork |
|
R249 DS weir (Ramelton - Donegal - Leannan) |
Donegal |
|
Owenea Weir (Glenties Donegal - Owenea) |
Donegal |
|
Eske Weir |
Donegal |
|
Eske Weir |
Donegal |
|
Crolack Culverts |
Donegal |
|
Fish Migration Barrier Removal at 7 weirs on the River Liffey |
Dublin |
|
Fish Migration Barrier Removal Matt/Bracken River, Balbriggan |
Dublin |
|
Clifden Foul Sewer |
Galway |
|
Derryclare Culvert |
Galway |
|
Dawros Culverts |
Galway |
|
Glengowla Mines Culvert |
Galway |
|
Barna Streams |
Galway |
|
Barna Streams |
Galway |
|
Barna Streams |
Galway |
|
Listowel Racecourse Bridge |
Kerry |
|
Galey Bridge Apron |
Kerry |
|
Listowel Weir |
Kerry |
|
Hogs head golf club Bridge |
Kerry |
|
Glanteenassig Culvert |
Kerry |
|
Shannowen Killmurry |
Kerry |
|
Croughmore west |
Kerry |
|
Bunglasha Culvert |
Kerry |
|
Cushaling 2 (Crabtree) |
Kildare |
|
Figile Barrier |
Kildare |
|
Carton House Waterfall |
Kildare |
|
Cushaling 1 (Lullybeg bridge apron) |
Kildare |
|
St Mullins Weir (Barrow) |
Kilkenny |
|
Ballyraggart Weir |
Kilkenny |
|
Tinnapark River (Barrow) |
Kilkenny |
|
Duiske River Culvert (Barrow) |
Kilkenny |
|
Clonassy/Pollanasa River |
Kilkenny |
|
Barkmills Weir |
Laois |
|
Owenass Bridge Apron |
Laois |
|
Rossinver Weir |
Leitrim |
|
Manorhamilton Weir |
Leitrim |
|
Glenaniff Bridge Apron (Leitrim - Glenaniff) |
Leitrim |
|
Blackboy Weir |
Limerick |
|
Shannon Estuary Deel |
Limerick |
|
Drumcar Weir |
Louth |
|
Coneyburrow bridge |
Louth |
|
Tallanstown weir |
Louth |
|
Gortmore Stream Bridge |
Mayo |
|
Glencullin Culvert (E of Carrowmore L0 |
Mayo |
|
Tawnyard Weir |
Mayo |
|
Erriff Culvert |
Mayo |
|
Killeen River Bridge Apron (at confluence with Moy) |
Mayo |
|
Bridge Apron on Glore East of Kiltimagh |
Mayo |
|
Sonnagh Bridge Apron (Mayo - Sonnagh) |
Mayo |
|
Tonnagh Weir |
Mayo |
|
Bellacorick Bridge S (Oweninny/Owenmore R.) |
Mayo |
|
Bellacorick Bridge N (Oweninny/Owenmore R.) |
Mayo |
|
Lough Eskey outfall |
Mayo |
|
Killeen Bridge Apron |
Mayo |
|
Emyvale Weir |
Monaghan |
|
Esker 1 |
Offaly |
|
Esker 2 |
Offaly |
|
Kinnitty |
Offaly |
|
Birr Camcor |
Offaly |
|
Montiagh Weir |
Sligo |
|
Toorlestraun Culvert |
Sligo |
|
Finned River Mouth Channel |
Sligo |
|
Shanrahan Weir |
Tipperary |
|
Cahernahalla Bridge |
Tipperary |
|
Carraighahorig Weir 2 |
Tipperary |
|
Bessborough gravel trap |
Tipperary |
|
Linguan |
Tipperary |
|
Mahon River |
Waterford |
|
Ballycarney Bridge (Slaney) |
Wexford |
|
Millpound Sluice Ouse |
Wexford |
|
Rathvilly Weir |
Wexford |
|
Bunclody Weir |
Wexford |
|
Pallis Perched Culvert, Wexford |
Wexford |
|
Old Ballyanne Bridge (Barrow) |
Wexford |
|
Pollmounty Sluice |
Wexford |
|
Deegins Bridge Weir |
Wicklow |
|
Straford-on-Slaney Ford |
Wicklow |
|
Derreen Bridge Apron (Wicklow - Derreen) |
Wicklow |
|
Baravore Ford |
Wicklow |
|
Ballyboy (Carriglinneen) Culvert |
Wicklow |
|
Oonagh Bridge Culvert |
Wicklow |
|
Glen of Imaal Weir |
Wicklow |
|
Glenart castle pond weir |
Wicklow |
|
Tinahely |
Wicklow |