Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to ask two brief questions. The Office of Public Works is putting a proposal to the ESB and Waterways Ireland for a pilot project aimed at trying to reduce the water level north of the weir wall in Athlone and increasing the storage capacity at Lough Ree. Is the Minister of State in a position to give an assurance to the House that Waterways Ireland will facilitate, rather than impede, this initiative? A proposal was put to previous Ministers of State in the Department who held the heritage brief in respect of flooding the cutaway bogs north of Lough Ree. The report in this regard has been with the Department's heritage section for the past ten years. Is it not time someone examined its contents? The proposal it contains would at least provide for some attenuation during periods of severe flooding.

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