Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the actions, if any, he has taken on foot of the recommendations in the report by the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht entitled Eight proposals urgently required to tackle flooding on the River Shannon, it's tributaries and the waters feeding into it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43610/12]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the report of the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht entitled “Eight proposals urgently required to tackle flooding on the river Shannon, its tributaries and the waters feeding into it”. While not all the matters raised in the Committee Report come within the remit of the Office of Public Works, the general scope of the Report has relevance to OPW’s present engagement with matters on the Shannon catchment. In response to the Committee Report, I brought the recent report carried out by Jacobs Engineering on the River Shannon Level Operation Review to the attention of the Committee and offered to facilitate a briefing on this report to Committee members.

The Deputy will be aware that the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Study for the River Shannon is being carried out by Jacobs Engineering. The study also involves a very widespread public and stakeholder consultation process to better inform the assessment of flood risks. In that context I have forwarded the Committee’s Report to Jacobs Engineering for incorporation into its analysis and development of option recommendations under the Flood Risk Management Plan which is due for completion by end 2015.

In advance of the completion of that Plan, the OPW will, in conjunction with the ESB and Waterways Ireland, continue to monitor the position on the management of water levels along the Shannon. I can assure you that I will maintain the close interest and involvement in this matter that I have demonstrated to date. I recently met again with Waterways Ireland and the ESB to review operational control protocols for water flows and levels on the Shannon. It was agreed at that meeting, in the light of stakeholder requests, to carry out a water level monitoring exercise, involving controlled raising and lowering of weir boards at selected locations. The carrying out of this exercise is contingent on favourable hydrological conditions and for this reason it has not been possible to date to undertake the exercise

I also met recently with the representatives of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI), and the Irish Boat Rental Association (IBRA) to discuss their concerns regarding operational controls on the Shannon. These concerns have been passed to Jacobs Engineering for active consideration in the context of its Catchment Flood Risk Assessment & Management (CFRAM) Study for the River Shannon, as part of the national CFRAM programme. It is my intention to ensure that constructive dialogue continues with all the main stakeholders and that progress can be made towards achieving a balanced and fair solution where the water in the Shannon and its lakes is maintained at levels which meets the needs of business, navigation, power generation and the welfare of those farming and living directly adjacent to the main river channel.