Silt removal will help river flow - 'Boxer'

The removal of 1,100 tonnes of silt upstream of Lough Derg, between Banagher and Victoria Lock, will be of "enormous benefit" to an improved flow of the River Shannon, local OPW Minister Kevin 'Boxer' Moran has said. The OPW Minister said the volume of silt removed from the bed of the river was a "milestone" of its time as he aims to steadily improve the conveyance of water along the Shannon.

A licence must be obtained to ensure the removal of silt from the River Shannon bed and Minister Moran expressed his thanks to the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Inland Fisheries Ireland who granted approval for the work to be completed.

"I am looking for a total of 22 licences to carry dredging and maintenance work, both upstream and downstream on the River Shannon. To date, I have received 15 licences and that has allowed work to be completed at various stretches along the river, most notably between Banagher and Victoria Lock," the Minister said.

The OPW Minister commended Waterways Ireland who, he said, were the "key drivers" behind the works along the River Shannon.

Gaining the remaining seven licences, 'Boxer' said, would allow for more dredging to take place downstream with farmers in need of this work to be carried out ahead of the winter season.

"Farmers want more and more of this work to be done and working in tandem with Waterways Ireland and all the relevant agencies, it is my job to ensure this river dredging and maintenance work happens," 'Boxer' said.

'Boxer' said, during his time out of Government, there was "no dredging" of the River Shannon and "making this work happen" was one of his aims when he returned to his ministerial post. Referencing the recent dredging work which took place over a seven-week period, the OPW Minister said approximately "four to five foot of silt" was removed from the river bed, enough material to cover "three-quarters of an acre of land".

The licences obtained for dredging and maintenance along the River Shannon last for a "short period of time", so 'Boxer' is adamant that when they are granted, essential works are carried out.

Approval for the next tranche of licences will allow for the removal of further silt and heavy trees which, he said, are causing "continuous blockages".

"These works wouldn't have been possible without a collaborative approach and I am grateful to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Inland Fisheries Ireland and Waterways Ireland for their help," 'Boxer' said.

'Boxer' also credited the work of the Save Our Shannon Organisation (SOSO), under Michael Silke, and Owen Murphy of conservation group Breeding Waters EIP Project,

"We have to respect the water and the land when it comes to conservation, but people and the farming community will always come first in respect of the River Shannon," the OPW Minister concluded.