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Still confusion over who minds the Shannon

by Danielle Harney  Updated: Wednesday, 3rd November, 2010 5:30pm

Councillors shocked by OPW response

It is almost one year since last winter’s devastating floods and Ireland’s state agencies are still undecided as to who has responsibility for the management of the River Shannon.

Councillors were shocked by the contents of a letter from the Office of Public Works, read out at Monday’s Athlone Town Council meeting in response to a letter sent by the council’s flood sub-committee.

The sub-committee wrote to the OPW to ask about the management of river levels, but in response, the OPW said that the ESB and Waterways Ireland are in control of managing water levels.

The agency said there is an “agreed set of protocols in place” between the three agencies and the OPW is engaged with “consultative dialogue” with the ESB and Waterways Ireland. The OPW added that any queries the council has regarding river control should be made to the other two agencies.

Town Clerk John Walsh added that he was told by Waterways Ireland that the OPW was in charge of the Shannon.

“They don’t seem to know who is in charge and it’s eleven months later,” said Cllr Mark Cooney (FG).

Cllr Kieran Molloy (FF) agreed. “It’s no wonder the trouble we’re in, when we get a letter like that.”

Cllr Paul Hogan (SF) pointed out that the OPW was made the competent authority by law.

Mayor Sheila Buckley Byrne agreed and said that the OPW was now the National Flood Authority.

“The title is very broad and very new, but the OPW will have to work harder to do it,” she said.

However, on a more positive note, the council said that there is a much better understanding this year between the Office of Public Works and Athlone Town Council on the issue of rising water levels on the Shannon.

Athlone’s Director of Services Barry Kehoe told councillors that the council is in “direct contact” with the OPW to discuss river levels and weather forecasts.

“We’re happy with the communication lines with the OPW,” he said. “We have a much better understanding this year.”

He said the council does not have direct access to the river gauges managed by the OPW, but that would probably only have limited value anyway.