Dr. Cathal Gallagher:

To remove all the barriers in Irish rivers could take 50 years. It is this scale of a problem. We have a prioritisation process that looks at which barriers we can do in a particular period. This is not only about salmon. It is about a lot of things. It is about trying to make sure we take out the lowest barrier. A range of criteria drive which ones we pick first.

While salmon and fish are one element of it, a big thing about rivers is to make them naturally flowing. Rivers have a process with all their gravels, sediments and habitat, which move down through the rivers. If we look below or above a barrier we can see the impounded water and the changing habitat when we block this process. The driver is largely to make sure not only that fish can pass but that they have a suitable habitat when they get up and down. There are a large number of benefits.

Some of these measures are very low-hanging fruit. We work with many organisations. Bridges were often built with a culvert on the bridge and a big step in front of the bridge. When we or other agencies start to do work on bridges we work to make sure the fix is put in at that stage. Culverts under roads are another barrier. We look to work with the roads authority and various people to mitigate these measures. I have to say it is not just about IFI, as we need partnership with many agencies to get this work done.