Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 28: To ask the Minister for Finance the steps which he is taking to address the summer flooding in the Shannon Callows; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12456/09]

Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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I visited the Shannon Callows last year and met with those affected by the flooding. I am conscious of the very serious impact on both farming and the environment in the area. Due to exceptionally heavy rainfall, the problem in 2008 was more severe than the normal summer flooding in the Callows. The extremely flat gradient of the river, together with the environmentally protected status of the location, makes it very difficult to devise a cost-effective solution.

The Office of Public Works carried out some clearance of vegetation in the area, which, although not sufficient to prevent the flooding last year, is generally acknowledged to have improved the situation. This work was carried out with the agreement of the National Parks and Wildlife Service and in consultation with other stakeholders.

The Irish Farmers Association requested that dredging be undertaken to remove accumulated silt, which they believed was reducing the capacity of the channel through the "New Cut". The Office of Public Works, having carefully studied the matter, was not convinced that the proposed silt removal would yield any further substantial relief of summer flooding in the Shannon Callows. It was, nevertheless, in recognition of the conviction of landowners that dredging would be effective, in light of the hardship, which the summer flooding causes, and in the absence of any better short-term solution prepared, subject to resolution of significant environmental issues, to undertake a limited amount of silt removal as a pilot scheme to demonstrate the efficacy or otherwise of the measure. It has not proved possible to date to resolve the environmental concerns and I regret that, in the light of the current budgetary constraints, it is no longer possible to justify undertaking these further works where the economic benefit cannot be clearly demonstrated.

In the circumstances, the Office of Public Works has no plans for further works in the immediate future. OPW will continue to monitor the situation and will be willing to consider any works, which can be justified economically and environmentally. The preparation of a Catchment Flood Risk Management Plan for the Shannon, which I expect will commence within the next 12 months, will build on previous reports and may present an opportunity to examine the problem on a comprehensive basis in the whole catchment context.