Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As Deputy Bannon said, one of the main problems with the Shannon is the frequent flooding. I accept that. The management of flood risk on the Shannon is being actively and comprehensively addressed through the OPW's catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, programme. The CFRAM programme is the core strategy for addressing flood risk in the Shannon basin. The CFRAM study is being conducted by Jacobs Engineering on behalf of the OPW and I am advised that good progress is being made on the project.

The output of this important project will be an integrated plan involving mapping and modelling of the river system and identifying specific measures to address, in a comprehensive and sustainable way, the significant flood risk factors in the Shannon basin. This will also include looking at all existing arrangements for the management of water levels and the roles and responsibilities of the main bodies involved, including the levels of co-ordination between them. The detailed plan to manage flood risk which will be produced under the CFRAM study will consider and make recommendations on any improvements deemed appropriate and workable in the existing arrangements and protocols being operated by those bodies.

We must wait to see what recommendation emanates from the CFRAM study and plan on the best way forward on the co-ordination of the management arrangements for the Shannon, which is what Deputy Bannon argues for. In the meantime the main bodies involved will continue to maintain constructive dialogue with all the main stakeholders to ensure, to the greatest extent possible, that a balanced and fair approach is taken to the management of water levels in the Shannon and its lakes to meet the needs of navigation, power generation and the welfare of those living directly adjacent to the main river channel.

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