Dáil debates

Wednesday, 14 November 2018

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions

Fisheries Protection

11:10 am

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

The establishment of the steering group in regard to the fish passage at Parteen is a key measure of the Government’s river basin management plan for Ireland 2018-2021. The Parteen area of the Shannon is designated as a heavily modified water body under the water framework directive and it is incumbent on us to apply enhancement measures, where practicable, to improve the ecological status and potential of the river.

My Department is undertaking a national analysis of barriers to fish movement through Inland Fisheries Ireland and I intend that this will form the basis of a future prioritised restoration programme. When the steering group makes recommendations regarding a fish passage improvement project for the Shannon, it will serve as an ideal pilot to advance this future restoration programme and the project will have important economic co-benefits for communities along the Shannon.

The steering group brings together all parties with a statutory remit in the area, as well as the Shannon Fishery Partnership, and it will issue its recommendations not later than April 2020. At its inaugural meeting a fortnight ago, the group identified outreach as a key issue and, recognising the importance of securing external inputs into its deliberations, has undertaken to put in place an appropriate mechanism in this regard as one of its first actions. I expect further information on this matter will be made available by the steering group shortly.

As I said, I attended the launch of the steering group, which is made up of a core group and a consultation group. The core group comprises the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, ESB, Inland Fisheries Ireland and Irish Water, and the consultative group around that includes the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Office of Public Works, the Shannon Fisheries Partnership and Waterways Ireland. Everyone around that table is very interested in ensuring we get a solution. They will be very happy to engage at the appropriate time with the public and certainly with the Deputy. I will send all the information I have to her and will put her in touch with the relevant people. We want to bring forward new solutions based on some new technologies that are out there.

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