Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 671: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will clarify plans for the proposed lowering of the weir in Fermoy, County Cork; if a timetable has been established for the work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14875/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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In July 2006, the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources issued a direction under the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959 to Fermoy Town Council, the owners of the weir, to carry out alterations 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 recognised that complete removal of the Fermoy weir would have a significant impact on rowing activities in the area. In recognition of these constraints, the report recommended that a section of the weir upstream from the Fermoy bridge be lowered and that a rock ramp fish pass be installed in the lowered weir to enable the free passage of all migratory species.