Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding plans to remove the weir below Fermoy Bridge in view of a previous commitment that nothing would be done to endanger sporting or other activities on the river; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27077/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I am advised that the River Blackwater is one of Ireland's most important salmon rivers and that the weir referred to by the Deputy significantly delays the free and uninterrupted migration of salmon and constitutes an effective barrier to the passage of lamprey and allis shad. In July 2006, the then Minister of State exercised his powers under the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959 and issued a direction to Fermoy Town Council, the owners of the weir, to carry out the alterations necessary to the Fermoy weir to allow for the free passage of fish while mitigating the impact on rowing activities. This direction issued in the interests of conserving and protecting the wild salmon resource and in order to avoid the initiation of infringement proceedings by the EU Commission under the Habitats Directive.

An engineering report commissioned by the Department recognises that complete removal of the Fermoy weir would have a significant impact on the activities of a rowing club in the area as residual water depths would not be sufficient if the weir was removed. In recognition of the constraints imposed by the need to maintain a depth of water for rowing, the report recommended that a section of the weir upstream from the Fermoy bridge be lowered to the maximum extent consistent with retaining sufficient depth for rowing activities and that a rock ramp fish pass be installed in the lower weir to enable the free passage of all migratory species.

Fermoy Town Council was instructed to undertake remedial works in this regard. It is a matter for the Town Council to secure the necessary resources to undertake the works.