Go-ahead for major maintenance works on River Shannon

A major maintenance programme on the River Shannon is to finally proceed.

Longford/Westmeath Deputy Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran confirmed today that the programme would address “the build-up of silt and vegetation on the River Shannon”.

The news was announced this morning in a press statement by Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group which was set up by the Government after last year's floods to better co-ordinate the various bodies involved in the River Shannon.

The group said the decision to approve the maintenance programme was “unprecedented”.

Over recent years, various State bodies have always shied away from approving such a programme. The OPW has previously indicated that it believes dredging would only have a minimal impact on winter flood levels.

The statement read: “The Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group at its meeting in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim on December 2, 2016 took a major decision to develop a plan for a strategic maintenance programme on the River Shannon.  Programmed maintenance works have not been carried out on the Shannon for a significant period of time and silt and vegetation has built up which impacts on the river’s conveyance capacity.”

Reacting to the news, Deputy Moran said maintenance works had not been carried out on the Shannon for a significant period of time and silt and vegetation has built up which impacts on the river’s conveyance capacity.

“This is a matter that I have been working on closely with Minister Sean Canney for some time and I have always argued that a regular maintenance programme is needed for the River Shannon in order to clear the build-up of silt and vegetation that is interfering with the flow of the river,” said Deputy Moran.

The Shannon Flood Risk Group, which is led by the OPW, considers that maintenance works on the Shannon are essential to halt the deterioration of the river channel.

Deputy Moran explained that the group will be addressing “all of the necessary legal, environmental, technical and other considerations that arise in relation to the proposed maintenance.”

It intends to bring together all of the relevant stakeholders to discuss, initiate and manage the development of this programme, he said.

Deputy Moran said that over many years, there have been calls for a maintenance programme to be put in place for the Shannon and now finally it is happening.

“This is very positive news and comes on top of the decisions to trial the lowering of the lake levels in Lough Allen to help mitigate potential flood risk for this Winter and to evaluate the benefits from any short and medium term programme of localised dredging and any future piloting to remove some pinch points along the Shannon.”

“The decisions taken by Minister Canney to date clearly demonstrate the determination of all concerned in finding practical solutions that will help reduce flood risk on the Shannon to the benefit of the communities along our largest river.