Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

14. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 14 of 26 February 2014, his views on that based on the information provided in his reply where forty four bodies have roles in relation to the maintenance and management of the River Shannon, that an examination should take place to review the effectiveness of the current management and governance issues that affect the river; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16617/14]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As outlined to the Deputy in reply to Parliamentary Question number 14 on the 26th of February 2014, there are many organisations, national and local, with an involvement in some aspect of the management of the River Shannon catchment. For example, Waterways Ireland has responsibility for navigation and, as such, will exercise some limited control over water levels in lakes and river stretches. The Electricity Supply Board, has statutory responsibility for the control of lake levels arising from water requirements for hydroelectric generation of electricity at Ardnacrusha. Environmental concerns, fisheries matters and tourism/recreational issues are dealt with by the relevant agencies with responsibilities in these matters. Local authorities – ten county councils – in the catchment monitor water quality with the assistance of a number of laboratories and have responsibility for its control. The Office of Public Works has no oversight role or authority in relation to the Shannon. Its main area of responsibility is for maintenance on those tributaries where capital works have been carried out under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945. The Office of Public Works hydrometric service also gathers water level and discharge information at a number of sites on the river.

Operational control of water flows and levels on the Shannon is primarily the responsibility of both the ESB and Waterways Ireland. The ESB has overall statutory responsibility for the management and control of water flows and levels on the Shannon. Waterways Ireland (WWI) also has a direct role and function in managing levels on the river. A system of management and control is in place involving co-operation by those two bodies under a detailed set of operational protocols and arrangements for the regulation of water levels on the river. I am advised that it is the bodies' view that this system has worked and is working satisfactorily.

The question of creating a single authority for the River Shannon is a major policy issue because of the very diverse range of powers, activities and responsibilities that would be affected. These include electricity generation, tourism, infrastructure, water quality, water extraction, waste water disposal, flood risk management and a range of environmental responsibilities.

The question of the optimum structure or structures to manage the Shannon and its tributaries was the subject of a report in 2002 by a sub-committee of the Joint Committee on Public Enterprise and Transport . It is worth noting that that Report indicated that, among the numerous groups and bodies involved in the management of the Shannon, a consensus existed among these groups that, while improvements in the management of the Shannon basin were needed, there was no agreement on the establishment a new organisation as the best means to achieve this end.

The 2002 report identified the main merits of the present arrangements for the management of the Shannon catchment as:

- functional responsibility is clearly fixed in law and each organisation has a precise remit, knows exactly what it is required to do and has clearly established priorities; and

- communication and collaboration between the various agencies take place using well established mechanisms, such as committees, working groups and partnerships.

The main weakness identified was a lack of co-ordination, among the organisations involved. The sub-committee took the view however that it would be undesirable to establish any additional institution unless it could be clearly demonstrated that tangible benefits would flow, which could not otherwise be achieved. It noted the danger that an extra organisation might usurp or duplicate existing institutions or else be just a talking shop. The report concluded that the establishment of a new organisation would be something that could be recommended only as a last resort.

One of the main problems with the Shannon is, of course, that of its frequent flooding. The management of flood risk on the Shannon is being actively and comprehensively addressed through the OPW's Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme.

The CFRAM programme is the core strategy for addressing flood risk in the Shannon Basin. The CFRAM Study is being conducted by Jacobs Engineering on behalf of the OPW and I am advised that good progress is being made on the project. The output of this important project will be an integrated plan of specific measures to address, in a comprehensive and sustainable way, the significant flood risk factors in the Shannon basin. The consultants will look at all existing arrangements for the management of water levels and the roles and responsibilities of the main bodies involved including the levels of co-ordination between them and will make recommendations on the best way forward for the co-ordination of the management arrangements for the Shannon. In the meantime the main bodies involved will continue to maintain constructive dialogue with all the main stakeholders to ensure to the greatest extent possible that a balanced and fair approach is taken to the management of water levels in the Shannon and its lakes to meet the needs of navigation, power generation and the welfare of those living directly adjacent to the main river channel.