Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to address the hardship caused by the flooding of the Shannon area; his further plans to carry out work on the Shannon River to alleviate this flooding in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32923/09]

Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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The Office of Public Works has no responsibility in relation to the maintenance of the River Shannon. It would be open to the Commissioners, under the provisions of the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945 and the Arterial Drainage (Amendment) Act, 1995 to prepare a scheme to prevent or substantially reduce flooding in the Shannon area. However, the possibility of undertaking an Arterial Drainage Scheme for the Shannon system has been considered on a number of occasions in the past, and has been ruled out on both economic and environmental grounds. Notwithstanding this, I personally have paid two visits to the Shannon Callows area in the company of the President of the IFA, local representatives, farmers and residents to view and discuss the problems in September 2008 and July 2009.

On foot of these visits, the OPW has undertaken minor works to address flood problems in specific locations in the Shannon area. Vegetation removal was carried out in the Callows area to reduce Summer flooding, and the OPW is currently engaged with the National Parks and Wildlife Service regarding the feasibility, from an environmental perspective, of undertaking further works there. The OPW is also, at present, carrying out vegetation and silt removal to reduce the risk of flooding at Clonlara.

The OPW has recently written to Local Authorities inviting applications for funding for minor works or studies aimed at reducing localised flood risk at locations in their administrative areas, subject to specific economic and environmental criteria. It would be open to Local Authorities in the Shannon area to apply for funding for works that meet these criteria.

In 2010, the OPW will commence a Flood Risk Assessment and Management study of the Shannon, in partnership with the Local Authorities involved, in line with the requirements of the EU Floods Directive. This study will produce a framework for dealing with flood risk in the area in a proactive and comprehensive way. It will identify and prioritise mitigating measures, including works, where appropriate, for locations where flood risk is considered significant.