Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question. The report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht on Shannon flooding dealt with and included recommendations on a number of issues within the areas of responsibilities of a range of Government Departments and State bodies. The OPW responded to the committee by way of a written reply in September 2012 in respect of the specific matters within the OPW's area of responsibility. The main area addressed in the reply related to the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management, CFRAM, programme and how the OPW is addressing flood risk on the River Shannon in the context of that programme. The committee report was forwarded to the technical consultants undertaking the Shannon CFRAM study on behalf of the OPW for consideration in the context of the study.

The OPW's core strategy for addressing flood risk in the Shannon basin is the River Shannon CFRAM study. I am advised that good progress continues to be made on the project. A total of 66 locations along the Shannon have been identified for further assessment under the study. The output of this important project will be an integrated plan of specific measures to address in a comprehensive and sustainable way the significant flood risk factors in the Shannon basin.

Operational control of water flows and levels on the Shannon is the responsibility of both the ESB and Waterways Ireland. In order to address ongoing concerns that the existing water level control regime may be a contributory factor in early summer flooding in the Callows, these bodies have agreed a new interim control regime for the regulation of water levels. Under this interim regime, the ESB agreed to a trial lowering of the spring and early summer target levels in Lough Ree to reduce somewhat the risk of summer flooding, particularly in the Shannon Callows area. This trial commenced in summer 2013 and will remain in place until the publication of the Shannon CFRAM plan. Further information on the Shannon CFRAM study is available on the Shannon CFRAM study website.

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