Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes. The annual maintenance programme typically involves some clearance of vegetation and the removal of silt over a five-year cycle. Approximately 730 km of channels are maintained in the west and north-west regions annually. The schemes in the west region include the Moy scheme, the Boyle and Bonet schemes, the Corrib group schemes and the Maam flood relief scheme. I understand Deputy Fitzmaurice is keen to see more of this and more silt removal. I am well aware of the situation regarding the Shannon, where silt has built up. I know exactly what Deputy Fitzmaurice is saying. We have to find ways to address this quickly. As I said earlier, a total of 300 areas are being investigated and examined, and plans are being put in place for them. Up to 66 of these areas are affected by the Shannon. Out of this process, we will see action plans that will deal with the areas in question. The money for this work has been ring-fenced for the coming three or four years. However, we need to co-ordinate who does what. The Action Plan for Jobs process is instructive. We put in place what had to be done and assigned the work to each of the various agencies. We know that five or six agencies are affected in this case. We need to ensure the work gets done and that is what we are trying to do. The 66 areas affect each other. The idea is to co-ordinate that work and get the money spent as quickly as possible to try to prevent further problems. This work will be done along with the ongoing maintenance that involves cleaning out all the various drains and so on. I realise this is what Deputy Fitzmaurice wants to see done. I will try to move that as quickly as possible. There is more to the reply and I will read it into the record later.

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